[Lipid peroxides and their importance in an organism]

The paper reviews recently obtained data on the origin and role of lipid peroxides and their secondary decomposed products in the organism. Polyunsaturated fatty acids are the basic substrate of lipid peroxidation caused either by the insufficiency of the defense mechanisms or by their influx exceeding the requirements of the organism. The increased formation of lipid peroxides is associated with a number of disorders, specially with the onset of atherosclerosis. Mechanisms which help lipid peroxides to influence the process of atheroma plaque formation with special regard to the role of oxidized LDL particles are discussed.