Preservation of endogenous antioxidant activity and inhibition of lipid peroxidation as common mechanisms of antiatherosclerotic effects of vitamin E, lovastatin and amlodipine.

Objectives: We sought to document the common mechanisms of the antiatherogenic effects of the cholesterol-lowering hydroxy-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitor lovastatin, the dihydropyridine Ca2+ blocker amlodipine and the antioxidant vitamin E.

Background: Vitamin E, HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors and Ca2+ blockers each inhibit atherosclerosis in hypercholesterolemic animals.

Methods: New Zealand White rabbits were fed regular chow (Group A), chow with 1% cholesterol (Group B), 1% cholesterol diet plus lovastatin (Group C), 1% cholesterol diet plus vitamin E (Group D) or 1% cholesterol diet plus amlodipine (Group E) for 12 weeks.