Scientists at a Minnesota medical school have recently discovered an antioxidant enzyme that could substantially reduce the occurrence of cardiovascular disease.

Glutathione peroxidase, or GPx3, is a natural antioxidant that helps the human body repair itself. Researchers have found that although it does not significantly improve cardiovascular health in people with high levels of good cholesterol, it does, in fact, dramatically reduce the incidents of cardiovascular disease in people with low levels of good cholesterol.

"People with high levels of the GPx3 enzyme and low levels of good cholesterol were six times less likely to develop cardiovascular disease than people with low levels of both," said Jordan Holtzman, lead author of the study. "This GPx3 enzyme gives us a good reason to believe that natural antioxidants like GPx3 are good for heart health."

Nurses can measure the amount of GPx3 antioxidants in the blood should their patients request a test, whether they have a history of cardiovascular disease or are worried they may in the future. In due time, Holtzman and his team of researchers hope the test will become commonplace in hospitals across the nation.