Vitamin E attenuates alcohol-induced aortic wall damage in rats

•Increased homocysteine and oxidative stress in aorta tissue of ethanolic rats.•Ethanol consumption Decreased total antioxidant capacity in aorta of rats.•Significant alteration of tissue structures in aorta.•Vitamin E decreased chemical and structural alterations in aorta tissue of rats.

BackgroundIn this study the effect of chronic ethanol consumption on vascular wall abnormality via oxidative stress was examined. It was also intended to find out whether vitamin E inhibits the abnormality induced by ethanol in rat vascular wall.MethodsTwenty-four male wistar rats were divided into three groups, namely, control, ethanol (4.5 g/kgBW intragastrically), and vitamin E treated ethanolic groups(VETE) (300 mg interagastrically).ResultsAfter 6 weeks treatment of rats, the results revealed that along with a significant increase VSMC proliferation and aorta wall thickness with the increase in the level of Ox-LDL, protein carbonyl, as well as decrease total antioxidant capacity in animal that received ethanol compared to the control group. Significant amelioration of aorta wall changes, along restoration of the elevated level of Ox-LDL, protein carbonyl, lipid profile, and decreased level of total antioxidant capacity to that of controls were found in vitamin E-treated animals.ConclusionsThese findings strongly support the idea that heavy and chronic ethanol consumption initiate atherosclerosis by oxidative stress, and that these effects can be alleviated by vitamin E as an antioxidant.