[The antioxidant defense system in hypertension patients on a diet enriched with omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and alpha-tocopherol]

A state of the anti-oxidation system in blood and the rate of lipid peroxidation were studied in patients with hypertension. High sensitivity of the anti-oxidation system enzymes to alterations in the diet fat composition was detected in the patients, nutrition of whom was evaluated in detail. Excessive doses of alpha-tocopherol, added to the diet enriched with omega 3-polyunsaturated fatty acids normalized lipid peroxidation and stabilized the enzyme activity involved in the anti-oxidation system. The integral parameter, proposed for evaluation of the anti-oxidation protection state and designated as "anti-oxidation index" involved estimation of catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione reductase and peroxidase activities as well as of content of malonic dialdehyde and diene conjugates in erythrocytes.