Abstract: Aim The effect of Vitamin E on the oxidation of low denity lipoprotein in coronary heart disease (CHD)was abserued.Methods I n 32 healthy control persons and 45 CHD patients, who were divided into two groups and given Vitmin E 0.1 g qd or 0.1 g tid, po for 4 weeks, the contents of oxidized low densi ty lipoprotein oxLDL, lipid perox ides (LPO)in serum and activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD)and g lutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px)in blood were examined before and after treatment.Results The oxLDL and LPO were significantly hig her in CHD patients than in the controls.after treatment with Vitmin E 0.1 g tid oxLDL and LPO decreased signif icantly (P<0.01)and GSH-Px activity increased markedly (P<0.01).Conclusion Vitamin E was a free radical scavenger and its inhibiting oxidative modification of LDL may be one of its machenisms for prevention and treatment of CHD.

Key words: Vitmin E, oxidized LDL, coronary heart disease, oxygen free radicals