Decreased serum total antioxidant status and erythrocyte-reduced glutathione levels are associated with increased serum malondialdehyde in atherosclerotic patients

Background. Coronary artery disease is the significant cause of morbidity and mortality today. The treatment of coronary artery disease is improving, but its prevalence is increasing. Both primary and secondary prevention measures are of vital importance. Methods. In this study, vitamin C, total antioxidant status, malondialdehyde in serum and erythrocyte-reduced glutathione levels were investigated in patients with atherosclerosis and compared with those of controls. Levels of serum MDA, vitamin C, total antioxidant status, and erythrocyte-reduced glutathione were determined according to the methods of Yagi, Bauer et al., Miller et al., and Beutler, respectively. Results. Erythrocyte-reduced glutathione, serum vitamin C, total antioxidant status, and malondialdehyde values of both patients with atherosclerosis and controls were as follows: 2.80±0.76, 5.82±0.67 μmol GSH/g Hb; 1.00±0.19, 1.62±0.30 mg/dL; 0.86±0.14, 1.43±0.16 mmol/L, and 4.26±0.9, 1.02±0.80 nmol/mL, respectively. There was a decrease in the levels of serum vitamin C, erythrocyte-reduced glutathione, and total antioxidant status (p<0.001), and increase in the levels of serum malondialdehyde (p<0.001) in patients with atherosclerosis when compared with those of controls. Conclusions. Because treatment of atherosclerosis is improving, our results suggest that antioxidant agents may have preventive roles in the formation of atherosclerosis. © 2002 IMSS. Published by Elsevier Science Inc.