VIEWPOINT

Should antioxidant status be considered in interventional trials with antioxidants?

F Violi, L Loffredo, L Musella, A Marcoccia

IV Divisione di Clinica Medica, Viale del Policlinico, University "La Sapienza", Roma, Italy

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Professor Francesco Violi
IV Divisione di Clinica Medica, Viale del Policlinico, 155, Roma, 00161, Italy; francesco.violi{at}uniroma1.it

The last decade has seen many trials with antioxidants in patients with cardiovascular disease, with equivocal results. One possible explanation for the disappointing findings is the lack of identification criteria of patients who are potential candidates for antioxidant treatment. Several studies have been carried out in patients at risk of cardiovascular disease, indicating that enhanced oxidative stress is associated with the presence of diabetes, hypercholesterolaemia, hypertension, and smoking. This review analyses the data reported so far to determine whether they clearly support the premise that patients at risk of cardiovascular events may be candidates for antioxidant treatment.

Keywords: antioxidants; atherosclerosis; oxidative stress; vitamin C; vitamin E

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