COMBINED EFFECTS OF LIPID-PEROXIDATION AND ANTIOXIDANT STATUS ON CAROTID ATHEROSCLEROSIS IN A POPULATION AGED 59-71 Y - THE EVA STUDY

There are few epidemiologic studies of the effects of lipid peroxidati on and antioxidant status on atherosclerosis. The relation of lipid pe roxidation evaluated by thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS ) and biological markers of antioxidant status to ultrasonographically assessed carotid atherosclerosis was examined from baseline data of a longitudinal study on cognitive and vascular aging (Etude sur le Viei llisement Arteriel, the EVA Study). The study sample was composed of 1 187 men and women aged 59-71 y without any history of coronary artery disease or stroke. Ultrasound examination included measurements of int ima-media thickness (IMT) on the common carotid arteries (CCAs) and at the site of plaques. After adjustment for conventional cardiovascular risk factors, erythrocyte vitamin E was significantly and negatively associated with CCA-IMT in both men and women whereas plasma selenium and carotenoids were not. No association was found between TBARS and C CA-IMT in either sex. However, TBARS were significantly higher in men with carotid plaques than in those without. This association was stren gthened in men with concentrations of erythrocyte vitamin E, plasma se lenium, and carotenoids below the lowest quartile. Our findings give s ome epidemiologic support to the hypothesis that lipid peroxidation an d low antioxidant status are involved in the early phases of atheroscl erosis.