[Vitamin E distribution of lipoproteins in patients with coronary heart disease]

The oxidative modification of LDL could play an important role for the development of atherosclerosis. The present study was undertaken to compare the concentration of vitamin E in serum and lipoproteins between patients with coronary heart disease and a healthy control group. The study included 36 male patients with angiographically established coronary three-vessel disease and 32 healthy volunteers. Cholesterin, triglyceride, LDL-cholesterin, HDL-cholesterin, and vitamin E in serum and in lipoproteins were determined. The serum vitamin E concentration in the patients group was significantly higher than in controls. However, vitamin E was correlated with cholesterin in both groups. The distribution of vitamin E in healthy volunteers was LDL 53%, HDL 34% and VLDL 13%, whereas that in patients was LDL 57%, HDL 26% and VLDL 16%. The level of vitamin E in LDL was in the patient group significantly higher and correlated with the vitamin E- and the cholesterin-concentration in serum. The ratio vitamin E/cholesterin in LDL was in patients discretely lower, whereas the same ratio in HDL was higher. The results suggest that also in patients with coronary artery disease vitamin E is related to the lipid concentration. The decreased ratio vitamin E/cholesterin in LDL could be attributed to the oxidative modification of LDL.