ENDOGENOUS AND COPPER-INDUCED LIPID-PEROXIDATION AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF SERUM IN HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIC SUBJECTS

Endogenous malondialdehyde and diene conjugate levels were increased i n hypercholesterolemic subjects with serum cholesterol levels above 24 0 mg/dl as compared to normocholesterolemic subjects (below 20 mg/dl). A decrease in vitamin E/cholesterol and vitamin C/cholesterol ratios was observed in serum of hypercholesterolemic individuals. However, th e susceptibility of serum to copper-induced lipid peroxidation and ant ioxidant activity were found unchanged. The present study indicates th at hypercholesterolemic subjects have a high level of circulating lipi d peroxides and that a higher tendency towards atherosclerosis in thes e subjects may be related to increased baseline levels of serum lipid peroxides.