This article is from "Nankai Sun Pharmacist", which is used for medical science popularization for reference. Atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease are frequent and common diseases of the cardiovascular system, hyperlipidemia caused by lipid metabolism disorders is closely related to its occurrence, lipids in plasma include cholesterol, triglycerides, phospholipids and free fatty acids, etc., it is known that the blood lipid (cholesterol and triglycerides) content of patients with atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease is higher than that of normal artificial, and its pathological changes are first cholesterol and other lipids in the arterial intima, and then the intima's fibrous connective tissue proliferation, and localized thickening, the formation of plaque, Then atherosclerosis is gradually formed, so lowering blood lipids can prevent atherosclerosis.
At present, commonly used lipid-lowering drugs in clinical practice include statins and fibrates, and some vitamins have lipid-lowering effects
Niacin: Niacin is a B vitamin, which affects the delivery of cholesterol in the blood by inhibiting the synthesis of very low-density lipoprotein, and can reduce serum cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations in large doses, but has no hypolipidemic effect after being converted into nicotinamide. In addition, niacin also has the effect of dilating peripheral blood vessels, thereby relieving vasospasm symptoms and improving local blood supply. At present, derivatives of niacin are mostly used in clinical practice, such as axilimus, inositol nicotinate, etc. It is suitable for hypertriglyceridemia, hypercholesterolemia and mixed hyperlipidemia, and can be combined with other lipid-lowering drugs to lower blood lipids, reduce the recurrence of myocardial infarction in patients with hyperlipidemia myocardial infarction, delay the progression of coronary atherosclerosis, and hypertriglyceridemia with the risk of pancreatitis.
Vitamin A: Vitamin A has physiological functions such as promoting growth, reproduction, maintaining normal bone epithelial tissue, vision and mucus secretion, and vitamin A deficiency can lead to vision loss and night blindness in severe cases. In addition, vitamin A has an antioxidant effect, can participate in many oxidation processes in the body, especially the oxidation of unsaturated fatty acids, inhibit the oxidation of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, thereby improving fat metabolism, delaying the occurrence and development of atherosclerosis, suitable for corneal malacia, xerophthalmia, night blindness, measles, hyperkeratosis, hyperplasia and atherosclerosis.
Vitamin C: Vitamin C is involved in amino acid metabolism, neurotransmitter synthesis, collagen and tissue cell interstitium, can reduce capillary permeability, accelerate blood coagulation, stimulate coagulation function, promote iron absorption in the intestine, increase resistance to infection, participate in detoxification function, and has the effect of antihistamine and prevent the production of carcinogens (nitrosamines). In addition, vitamin C is also an antioxidant that scavenges oxygen free radicals, inhibits LDL cholesterol oxidation, promotes a decrease in blood lipids, and reduces arteriosclerosis. It has a certain effect on hyperlipidemia, but the clinical efficacy has not been confirmed.
Vitamin E: Vitamin E can enhance the antioxidant effect of cells, prevent the peroxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids in the body, inhibit the production of lipid peroxide, and reduce the damage of lipid peroxide to the body's biofilm. Vitamin E can also maintain the normal permeability of capillaries, increase blood flow, repair scars after damage to blood vessel walls, inhibit platelet aggregation, and prevent thrombosis. In addition, vitamins can also improve lipid metabolism, reduce oxidized LDL cholesterol, vitamin E deficiency can lead to an increase in cholesterol and triglyceride content, leading to atherosclerosis, vitamin E supplementation can prevent the occurrence of arteriosclerosis. It is suitable for the adjuvant of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases**.
In conclusion, the above four vitamins all have the effect of lowering blood lipids and preventing atherosclerosis, among which niacin drugs have a clear curative effect, and niacin derivative axilimus has a good tolerance. Vitamin A and vitamin E also have good lipid-lowering effects and can be used for the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis. The lipid-lowering efficacy of vitamin C has not yet been clarified, and further clinical studies are needed to explore and validate.