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(Circulation. 1999;100:219-221.)
© 1999 American Heart Association, Inc.
Brief Rapid Communications |
Plasma 
-Tocopherol and Coronary Endothelium-Dependent Vasodilator Function
From the Cardiovascular Division, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass, and Linus Pauling Institute, Oregon State University, Corvallis (B.F., J.H.S.).
Correspondence to Scott Kinlay, MBBS, PhD, Cardiovascular Division, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 75 Francis St, Boston, MA 02115. E-mail skinlay{at}massmed.org
Background—In the presence of
atherosclerosis, the coronary
endothelial vasomotor response to acetylcholine is
frequently abnormal but is variable between patients. We tested the
hypothesis that the plasma concentration of 
-tocopherol
is associated with the preservation of nitric oxide–mediated
endothelium-dependent vasomotion.
Methods and Results—We studied 15 men and 6 women (mean age
61±10 years) at coronary angiography who were not taking
vitamin supplements. Coronary
endothelium-dependent and -independent vasomotion was
assessed by intracoronary infusions of acetylcholine and
nitroglycerin. The vasomotor responses were compared
with the plasma concentration of -tocopherol and the
plasma -tocopherol concentration relative to total lipid
(total cholesterol plus triglycerides). The
mean plasma -tocopherol was 25.6±6.1 µmol/L,
total cholesterol 193±27 mg/dL, triglycerides
115±66 mg/dL, and -tocopherol to total lipid
4.2±0.9 µmol · L-1 ·
(mmol/L)-1. The mean vasomotor response to acetylcholine
was -1% (range -33% to 28%) and to nitroglycerin
22% (range 0% to 54%). Plasma -tocopherol was
significantly correlated with the acetylcholine response
(r=0.49, P<0.05) but not the
nitroglycerin response (r=0.13,
P>0.05). The acetylcholine response remained
significant after adjustment for other potential sources of oxidant
stress (total cholesterol, diabetes mellitus, smoking,
angina class) (P<0.01). The relative concentration of
-tocopherol to total lipid was not related to
endothelial function (r=0.24,
P=0.3, n=20).
Conclusions—-Tocopherol may preserve
endothelial vasomotor function in patients with
coronary atherosclerosis. This effect may be
related primarily to the action of -tocopherol in the
vascular wall. Further studies that assess the impact of
-tocopherol supplementation as therapy of
endothelial dysfunction are justified.
Key Words: endothelium • antioxidants • atherosclerosis
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