DIET, ANTIOXIDANT VITAMINS, OXIDATIVE STRESS AND RISK OF CORONARY-ARTERY DISEASE - THE PEERZADA PROSPECTIVE-STUDY

The prevalence of coronary artery (CAD) disease in the Indian urban po pulation is comparable to British population. Dietary intakes, antioxi dant vitamins, prevalence of risk factors and CAD, were studied in a r andom sample of 152 adult urban subjects between 26-65 years of age (8 0 males, 72 females) from Peerzada street, Moradabad and compared with Indian immigrants to U.K. and a British comparison group. There was n o significant relation with vitamin A. Smoking and diabetes were the c onfounding factors. Plasma antioxidant vitamin C (21.6 +/- 3.3 vs 42.5 +/- 4.5 mumol/L), vitamin E (15.2 +/- 2.8 vs 21.4 +/- 3.2 mumol/L) an d beta-carotene (0.33 +/- 0.6 vs 0.55 +/- 0.08 mumol/L) were significa ntly lowered and lipid peroxides higher (2.82 +/- 0.22 vs 1.3 +/- 0.20 nmol/ml) in patients with CAD compared to subjects without any risk f actors. The relation between low plasma level of vitamin C and E level s and carotene remained independently and inversely related after adju stment for smoking, diabetes and other risk factors. Regression analys is showed that after adjustment, Odd's ratio for carotene (1.82, 95% C .I. 0.50 to 3.72), vitamin C (2.23, 95% C.I. 1.14 to 5.26) and vitamin E (2.35, 95% C.I. 1.29 to 5.30) were significantly related to CAD. Un derlying these changes, dietary intake of vitamin A, E, C and beta-car otene was significantly less in patients with CAD. Vitamin C and beta- carotene intake were less in smokers and diabetes. Compared with Briti sh population, the Indian urbans consumed less total and saturated fat and cholesterol and more polyunsaturated fat and complex carbohydrate s. The plasma total and low density lipoprotein cholesterol levels wer e less in Indian urbans compared to Britons and so were mean body weig ht, body mass index and waist-hip ratio. Plasma insulin levels were co mparable. The fatty acid composition of the diet, blood lipids, centra l obesity and insulin levels do not appear to account for high rates o f CAD among Indians. The findings suggest that urban population in Ind ia may benefit from eating diets rich in antioxidant vitamin C, E and beta-carotene.