Diplock A T
Division of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, United Medical and Dental School (University of London), Guy's Hospital, United Kingdom.
Free Radic Res. 1997 Nov;27(5):511-32. doi: 10.3109/10715769709065791.
Recent research about the role of free radical derivatives of oxygen and nitrogen in biological systems has highlighted the possibility that antioxidants, such as vitamin E, that prevent these processes in vitro may be capable of carrying out a similar function in living organisms in vivo. There is increasing evidence that free radical reactions are involved in the early stages, or sometimes later on, in the development of human diseases, and it is therefore of particular interest to inquire whether vitamin E and other antioxidants, which are found in the human diets, may be capable of lowering the incidence of these diseases. Put simply, the proposition is that by improving human diets by increasing the quantity in them of antioxidants, it might be possible to reduce the incidence of a number of degenerative diseases. Of particular significance to these considerations is the likely role of the primary fat-soluble dietary antioxidant vitamin E in the prevention of degenerative diseases such as arteriosclerosis, which is frequently the cause of consequent heart attacks or stroke, and prevention of certain forms of cancer, as well as several other diseases. Substantial evidence for this proposition now exists, and this review is an attempt to give a brief account of the present position. Two kinds of evidence exist; on the one hand there is very substantial basic science evidence which indicates an involvement of free radical events, and a preventive role for vitamin E, in the development of human disease processes. On the other hand, there is also a large body of human epidemiological evidence which suggests that incidence of these diseases is lowered in populations having a high level of antioxidants, such as vitamin E, in their diet, or who have taken steps to enhance their level of intake of the vitamin by taking dietary supplements. There is also some evidence which suggests that intervention with dietary supplements of vitamin E can result in a lowered risk of disease, in particular of cardiovascular disease, which is a major killer disease among the developed nations of the world. The intense interest in this subject recently has as its objective the possibility that, by making some simple alterations to dietary lifestyle, or by enhancing the intake of vitamin E by fortification of foods, or by dietary supplements, it may be possible to reduce substantially the risk of a large amount of common, highly disabling human disease. By this simple means, therefore it may be possible to improve substantially the quality of human life, in particular for people of advancing years.
诸如维生素E之类的抗氧化剂，虽在体外能阻止这些过程，但在活生物体的体内或许也能发挥类似功能。越来越多的证据表明，自由基反应在人类疾病发展的早期阶段，或者有时在后期阶段有所涉及，因此特别值得探究的是，人类饮食中所含的维生素E及其他抗氧化剂是否能够降低这些疾病的发病率。简而言之，该主张是通过增加饮食中抗氧化剂的含量来改善人类饮食，或许有可能降低多种退行性疾病的发病率。对于这些考量而言，主要的脂溶性膳食抗氧化剂维生素E在预防诸如动脉硬化（其常引发心脏病发作或中风）等退行性疾病、预防某些类型的癌症以及其他几种疾病中可能发挥的作用尤为重要。现在已有大量证据支持这一主张，本综述旨在简要阐述当前的状况。存在两类证据：一方面，有非常大量的基础科学证据表明自由基事件以及维生素E在人类疾病进程发展中的预防作用；另一方面，也有大量人类流行病学证据表明，在饮食中含有高水平抗氧化剂（如维生素E）的人群，或者通过服用膳食补充剂来提高维生素摄入量的人群中，这些疾病的发病率较低。还有一些证据表明，服用维生素E膳食补充剂进行干预可降低患病风险，尤其是心血管疾病风险，心血管疾病是世界发达国家中的主要致命疾病。近期对该主题的浓厚兴趣旨在实现这样一种可能性，即通过对饮食生活方式进行一些简单改变，或者通过强化食品或膳食补充剂来增加维生素E的摄入量，或许有可能大幅降低大量常见的、使人严重致残的人类疾病的风险。因此，通过这种简单方式，有可能大幅提高人类生活质量，尤其是对年长者而言。
