Reduced concentrations of soluble adhesion molecules after antioxidant supplementation in postmenopausal women with high cardiovascular risk profiles--a randomized double-blind study.

Background: One of the suggested mechanisms of increased cardiovascular risk in postmenopause is a loss of the antioxidant effects of estrogens. It has been shown that classical cardiovascular risk factors increase oxidative stress on the arterial wall, and that endothelial cells react to this insult by increased expression of cellular adhesion molecules (CAM), which in turn are markers of arterial wall inflammation.

Methods: A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study was performed in 60 postmenopausal women with high cardiovascular risk profiles, but free from clinical atherosclerotic disease.