EFFECT OF ALPHA-TOCOPHEROL ON IN-VITRO AND IN-VIVO METABOLISM OF LOW-DENSITY LIPOPROTEINS IN HEMODIALYSIS-PATIENTS

It has been reported that some modified low-density lipoproteins (LDLs ) such as glycated LDL and malondialdehyde-rich LDL (MDA-LDL) probably exist in the circulation. The present study was undertaken to investi gate the in vitro and in vivo metabolism of MDA-LDL occurring in chron ic haemodialysis patients and the effects of alpha-tocopherol on these abnormalities. MDA-LDL from haemodialysis patients was degraded more rapidly by human monocyte-derived macrophages and disappeared more slo wly from the circulation when compared with LDL from healthy controls. Treatment with alpha-tocopherol at doses of 600 mg/day for 2 weeks re sulted in improvement of these metabolic abnormalities depending upon the degree of return to normal MDA concentrations in LDL.