PLASMA-FIBRINOGEN, FIBRINOLYSIS AND (PRO)VITAMINS - IS THERE A CONNECTION

Objective: To investigate whether the relationship between anti-oxidan t vitamins and cardiovascular disease can be mediated by influencing h aemostasis or fibrinolysis. Design: Cross-sectional population study. Setting: Population screening in the northern Sweden MONICA study. Mat erial: 102 men aged 40-49 years, randomly selected. Outcome measure: U nivariate and multivariate relationships between on the one hand plasm a fibrinogen, tPA activity and PAI-I activity and on the other hand pl asma levels of retinol, beta-carotene, vitamin C, alpha- and gamma-toc opherol. Results: Plasma fibrinogen levels were inversely correlated t o lipid-standardized retinol; a relationship that persisted after adju stment for possible confounders, tPA activity was directly related to beta-carotene and inversely to retinol (with or without lipid-standard ization),In multiple regression analysis, lipid-standardized retinol w as still a significant predictor of tPA activity when possible confoun ders and PAI-I activity were taken into consideration, PAI-1 activity correlated to retinol and inversely to beta-carotene but these (pro)vi tamins were not significant predictors of PAI-1 activity when adjusted for confounders. Conclusion: High plasma retinol levels are associate d with low plasma fibrinogen and impaired fibrinolytic activity. Other anti-oxidant (pro)vitamins seem not to act by influencing haemostasis or fibrinolysis.