SMOKING CESSATION INCREASES THE RESISTANCE OF LOW-DENSITY-LIPOPROTEINTO OXIDATION

The effects of smoking cessation on the susceptibility to oxidation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) was investigated in 14 men who quit smo king for 3 months. LDL was isolated and susceptibility of LDL to V-70 (4-methoxy-2,4-dimethylvalerinitrile)-mediated oxidation was assessed by measuring conjugated diene production at 234 nm, the lag phase bein g a measure of the resistance of LDL to oxidation. The mean duration o f the lag phase became 1.9-fold longer after 3 months (P < 0.001). The result suggests that the increase in resistance of LDL to oxidation c ontributes to the reduction of the risk of coronary heart disease by s moking cessation. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.