Manuela Ciocoiu *, Elena-Cătălina Lupușoru **, Magda Bădescu *
* Șef lucrări dr. Manuela Ciocoiu – Disciplina de Fiziopatologie, U.M.F. “Gr. T. Popa” Iași
** Conf. dr., Elena-Cătălina Lupușoru – Catedra de Farmacologie-Algeziologie și Toxicologie, U.M.F. “Gr. T. Popa” Iași
*** Prof. dr. Magda Bădescu – Disciplina de Fiziopatologie, U.M.F. “Gr. T. Popa” Iași
Abstract
Vitamin E is the term for a group of tocopherols and tocotrienols,of which a-tocopherol has the highest biological activity. The impact of a- tocopherol in the prevention of chronic diseases could be associated with oxidative stress and its beneficial effects have been demonstrated. y-tocopherol is a powerful nucleophile that traps electrophilic mutagens in lipophilic compartments. Thus, y-tocopherol which complements glutathione may protect lipids, DNA and proteins from peroxynitrite-dependent damage. Vitamin E enrichment of endothelial cells down regulates the expression of intercellular molecule adhesion. Like every redox-active compound vitamin E may exert pro-oxidative and anti-oxidative effects depending on the reaction partners present. α-tocopherol and vitamin C supplementation in patients with type II diabetes mellitus reduces oxidative stress through decreasing of lipid peroxidation and increasing of antioxidant defence parameters, in particular, serum paraoxonase activity. Thus, it may be beneficial in the prevention of vascular complications related to diabetes mellitus, because paraoxonase has a determinant role in the pro tec tion of low density lipoprotein against peroxidation. As part of a heart disease risk profile together with classic risk factors its important the impact of antioxidant vitamins E and C as non-classic risk factor.