SERUM LIPID-SOLUBLE ANTIOXIDANTS IN PATIENTS WITH HYPERLIPOPROTEINEMIA

In 252 hyperlipoproteinemic subjects with or without symptoms of cardi ovascular disease the serum concentrations of Vitamin E (alpha-tocophe rol), vitamin A (retinol), lycopene, alpha-carotene, and beta-carotene , collectively called serum lipid-soluble antioxidants, were measured. Associations with serum lipids, constitutional, and life-style factor s were investigated. These hyperlipoproteinemic individuals displayed higher serum concentrations of antioxidants than normolipidemic subjec ts, except for lycopene. Serum cholesterol and/or triglycerides were s ignificant predictors of elevated serum antioxidant concentrations, an d could together explain 36% of the total variability in serum vitamin E, after adjusting for age, body mass index, dietary intake of vitami n E, smoking, and alcohol consumption. Serum lipids explained 12% of t he variability in p-carotene, 10% of that in vitamin A, 6% of that in cu-carotene, and 4% of that in lycopene, after adjusting for age, body mass index, smoking, and alcohol consumption. The relationship betwee n serum lipids, taken as the sum of cholesterol and triglycerides, and serum vitamin E was linear from 4.5 to 16 mmol/l of total lipids. Lip id standardization of the serum vitamin A and E and p-carotene concent rations to a level of 7 mmol/l of serum lipids showed that this group of hyperlipoproteinemic subjects was above the proposed European risk thresholds concerning dietary antioxidants and cardiovascular disease. The serum lycopene concentration was found to be lower in subjects wi th cardiovascular disease symptoms than in those without. However, aft er adjusting for age, this apparent difference disappeared.