Atherosclerosis is this nation's leading cause of death for males and females, and Blacks and whites. There is mounting evidence that the oxidation of blood low density lipoproteins (LDL) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of this disease. LDL oxidation can be prevented by several dietary antioxidants, in particular, vitamin C, vitamin E, and beta-carotene. There is preliminary evidence that dietary antioxidants may slow the natural history of atherosclerosis in humans. Until now studies in this area have included predominantly white males with symptomatic disease.