Effect of vitamin E supplementation on antioxidant enzymes and lipid peroxidation in myocardial infarction patients

Oxidative stress is increased in patients with myocardial infarction [MI] owing to increase in free radical production. Alteration in the levels of antioxidant enzymes in these patients are a consequence of either increased production of free radicals or depletion of endogenous antioxidants. It is believed that vitamin E supplementation reduces MI by scavenging free radicals and by ameliorating enzyme activity. However, the outcomes of clinical trials with vitamin E in MI prevention have been mixed. The present study was therefore, undertaken to assess the status of antioxidant markers: superoxide dismutases [SOD], ceruloplasmin, and lipid peroxidation i.e., malondialdehyde [MDA] levels in the blood samples of MI patients and to investigate the effect of vitamin E supplementation in ameliorating the levels of antioxidant enzymes and malondialdehyde in Ml subjects. 120 Ml patients 30 to 65 years of age were taken for the study and 72 healthy individuals served as controls. In vitro vitamin E supplementation study in the blood samples of the respective MI subjects was performed. Vitamin E supplementation brought about an improved antioxidant status with significantly raised, SOD levels [22.4%, p<0.05] and simultaneously depleted MDA levels [32.58%, p<0.001]. Ceruloplasmin levels however, remained unaltered [p<0.1]. These findings further support the preventive and helpful role of vitamin E supplementation in reducing oxidative stress levels in MI patients