The present invention provides a method of preventing or treating a disease caused by oxidation in vivo by administering a pharmacologically effective amount of at least one compound selected from the group consisting of: (1) 2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-2-(&bgr;-carboxyethyl)-6-hydroxychromane; and (2) 2,7, 8-trimethyl-2-(&bgr;-carboxyethyl)-6-hydroxychromane. Further, it provides use of a compound selected from the group consisting of (3) &agr;-tocopherol, (4) &agr;-tocotrienol, (5) &ggr;-tocopherol and (6) &ggr;-tocotrienol for generation in vivo of any of the above compounds (1) and (2) to treat a disease caused by oxidated low density lipoprotein (LDL).