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Long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids may account for higher low-density lipoprotein oxidation susceptibility in

B Ziedén1, A Kaminskas, M Kristenson

  • 1Clinical Research Center and Department of Medicine and Care, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping, Sweden. Bo.Zieden@kfc.liu.se

Scandinavian Journal of Clinical and Laboratory Investigation
|December 13, 2002
PubMed

Insights

Lithuanian men have increased low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation susceptibility due to differences in fatty acid composition, particularly higher LDL eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and lower antioxidant vitamins. These factors contribute to higher coronary heart disease mortality.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Science
  • Nutritional Biochemistry
  • Lipid Metabolism

Background:

  • Coronary heart disease mortality is significantly higher in Lithuanian men compared to Swedish men.
  • Traditional risk factors do not fully explain this disparity.
  • Previous studies indicated lower LDL oxidation resistance and reduced antioxidant vitamin levels in Lithuanian men.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if differences in LDL fatty acid composition contribute to variations in LDL oxidation susceptibility between Lithuanian and Swedish men.
  • To explore the role of specific fatty acids and antioxidant vitamins in LDL oxidation.

Main Methods:

  • Cross-sectional study involving 100 healthy 50-year-old men (50 from Vilnius, Lithuania; 50 from Linköping, Sweden).
  • Analysis of fatty acid composition in LDL phospholipid (PL) and cholesterol ester (CE) fractions.
  • Measurement of LDL oxidation susceptibility using LDL lag time during copper oxidation.

Main Results:

  • Vilnius men exhibited higher proportions of PL 20:5n3 (eicosapentaenoic acid, EPA) and shorter LDL lag times, indicating increased susceptibility to oxidation.
  • Lower serum gamma-tocopherol levels were observed in Vilnius men.
  • Multiple regression analysis identified high PL-EPA, low alpha-tocopherol, and high plasma triglycerides as significant contributors to shorter LDL lag time.

Conclusions:

  • Fatty acid quality, specifically higher LDL-EPA, along with elevated plasma triglycerides and lower levels of certain antioxidant vitamins, may partly explain the increased LDL oxidation susceptibility in Lithuanian men.
  • These findings suggest a potential link between dietary fat quality and cardiovascular disease risk.
Abstract

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