The Effect of Vitamin E on the Endothelial Function Following a Single High-Fat Meal in Normal Subjects, Patients with Coronary Heart Disease and Patients with Diabetes

Background and Objectives:The hyperlipidemia by a high-fat diet induce the endothelial dysfunction. We have performed this study to determine the relationship between postprandial hypertriglyceridemia and endot- helial function and to know the effects of vitamin E on the endothelial function. Materials and Method:En- dothelial function was measured by flow-mediated brachial artery vasodilation (FMD as percent diameter changes. We have serially measured lipid profiles and FMD after a meal in normal subjects (10 males, mean:26 yr, which test was repeated according to types of meal (high-fat, low-fat and high-fat meal with 800 IU vitamin E. The second stage of this study is consisted of 10 patients with coronary artery disease (CAD, mean:50 yr and 10 diabetes (DM, mean:48 yr. Results:The serum triglycerides were significantly increased at 2 and 4 hours after a high-fat meal. The FMD was transiently decreased (p<0.001 to 7±4% and 7±2% at 2 and 4 hours only after a high-fat meal from 13±4% at fasting state. The FMD was inversely related with postpran-dial hypertriglyceridemia (r=-0.52, p<0.05. The baseline FMD in patients with CAD and DM were all lower, 9± 4% and 10±5% respectively, than 15±2% of normal subjects. The FMD in patients with CAD were improved to 13±4%, 13±4% and 11±6% at 2, 4, and 6 hours after a meal plus vitamin E, respectively. The FMD in diabe- tic patients were not decreased as same manor in normal subjects. Conclusion:The vitamin E can prevent the endothelial dysfunction which is induced by postprandial hypertriglyceridemia in normal subjects and can im- prove the endothelial dysfunction in patients CAD as well as DM. (Korean Circulation J 1998; 28(9 :1538-1551