Vitamine C en E verminderen nadelen hoog cholesterol.*

Children and young adults who have inherited high cholesterol may reduce their risk of clogged arteries by taking vitamins C and E, researchers reported on Monday.

The vitamins improve blood flow through the arteries and may prevent the damage that leads to atherosclerosis, commonly known as hardening of the arteries, the researchers said.

Writing in the journal Circulation, Marguerite Engler of the University of California San Francisco and colleagues said the study is the first to show that vitamins can reverse the damage as well.

"When we gave these children moderate doses of vitamins C and E for six weeks, we saw a significant improvement in blood-vessel function, which is an important indicator of cardiovascular health," Engler said in a statement.

An estimated 50 million U.S. children have high levels of cholesterol, and thus a high risk of heart disease and heart attack. The American Heart Association defines this as cholesterol of 200 or higher and low- density lipoprotein--LDL or "bad" cholesterol--of 130 or higher.

Drugs including statins work very well to lower cholesterol levels in adults but they can have severe side effects and are not usually recommended for children.

"The findings of this study suggest hope for children with abnormally high cholesterol levels that their condition can be improved through vitamin supplements," said Patricia Grady, director of the National Institute of Nursing Research, which helped fund the study. (2003)

 

 

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