OXIDATION-RELATED ANALYTES AND LIPID AND LIPOPROTEIN CONCENTRATIONS IN HEALTHY-SUBJECTS

The relations between oxidation-related analytes and lipoprotein risk factors for coronary heart disease are poorly understood. To address t his issue, ceruloplasmin, copper, iron, ferritin, cotinine, lipid pero xides, cholesterol, triglyceride, apoB, apoA-I, and lipoprotein(a) lev els were measured in sera from apparently healthy subjects (51 men and 115 women). Painwise comparisons revealed strong positive association s (P<.001) of copper and ceruloplasmin with lipid peroxides, total cho lesterol, triglycerides and apoB, of transferrin with apoA-I and chole sterol, and of ferritin with triglycerides. Serum levels of oxidation- related analytes did not differ between smokers and nonsmokers. In mul tivariate analysis, serum copper was the major independent determinant of serum lipid peroxide level, accounting for 15% of the variability in concentration (ferritin accounted for 1.6%). Copper and ceruloplasm in accounted for 20.5% of the variation in triglyceride levels; trigly cerides and apoB accounted for 12% of the variability in ferritin leve ls; apoB and apoA-I accounted for 9% of the variability in transferrin levels. The data suggest that serum copper contributes to lipid perox idation in vivo. There are significant associations between lipoprotei n and transition metal-related analytes, and further work is needed to elucidate the physiological basis for these relations.