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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)