Many natural products, including
vitamin E, garlic,
purpurogallin, flaxseed and its components [
secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG) and flax
lignan complex (FLC)] and
resveratrol have been reported to suppress hypercholesterolemic
atherosclerosis. It is known that all of the drugs that suppress the development of
atherosclerosis do not regress and/or slow the progression of
atherosclerosis. To be of potential benefit in patients with established
atherosclerosis, a
drug should produce regression and/or slow the progression of
atherosclerosis. In this review, the effects of
vitamin E, SDG and FLC in the regression and slowing of progression of hypercholesterolemic
atherosclerosis and their mechanisms have been described. The effectiveness of
vitamin E in patients with established
coronary disease is very controversial. However, in experimental animal controlled studies,
vitamin E does not regress or slow the progression of hypercholesterolemic
atherosclerosis. The mechanisms of the ineffectiveness of
vitamin E in regression and slowing of progression of
atherosclerosis have been discussed. SDG is effective in slowing the progression of
atherosclerosis and partially effective in regression of hypercholesterolemic
atherosclerosis. These effects are associated with reduction in oxidative stress. FLC does not regress hypercholesterolemic
atherosclerosis but slows the progression of hypercholesterolemic
atherosclerosis. Slowing of progression is associated with reduction on oxidative stress. In conclusion,
vitamin E does not regress or slow the progression of established
atherosclerosis. SDG slows the progression and regresses established
atherosclerosis. FLC does not regress but slows the progression of established
atherosclerosis.