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Erythrocyte antioxidant status in asymptomatic hypercholesterolemic men
1Laboratoire de Biochimie Appliquée, Faculté de Pharmacie, Châtenay-Malabry, France.
Atherosclerosis
|August 5, 1998
Summary
Asymptomatic hypercholesterolemic men show reduced red blood cell vitamin E levels and increased susceptibility to oxidative stress. Red blood cell vitamin E may indicate early oxidative stress in atherosclerosis pathogenesis.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Cardiovascular Disease Research
- Oxidative Stress Studies
Background:
- Oxidative stress, an imbalance between oxidants and antioxidants, is implicated in atherosclerosis development.
- Previous research suggests a role for oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the antioxidant status in asymptomatic hypercholesterolemic (HC) men compared to normocholesterolemic (NC) men.
- To assess erythrocyte susceptibility to oxidative stress in HC men.
Main Methods:
- Compared red blood cell (RBC) vitamin E, plasma vitamin E, and HDL vitamin E levels between HC and NC groups.
- Measured erythrocyte superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities.
- Assessed RBC resistance to oxidative stress via induced hemolysis.
Main Results:
- HC men exhibited significantly lower RBC vitamin E content than NC men.
- RBC resistance to oxidative stress was significantly decreased in HC men.
- No significant differences were found in erythrocyte enzymatic antioxidant activities between groups.
Conclusions:
- Asymptomatic hypercholesterolemic men display an altered antioxidant status in RBCs.
- Increased erythrocyte susceptibility to oxidative stress is evident in HC men.
- RBC vitamin E levels may serve as a sensitive marker for early oxidative stress in atherosclerosis.