Lipophilic antioxidants and polyunsaturated fatty acids in lipoprotein classes: distribution and interaction.
OBJECTIVE
To study the lipoprotein distribution of supplemented coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), vitamin E, and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA).


METHODS
Balanced three-period crossover study.


METHODS
University research unit.


METHODS
Eighteen apparently healthy free-living non-smoking volunteers (nine women, nine men), mean age 26 +/- 3 y, recruited among the university students; no dropouts.


METHODS
Three supplementation periods of 10 days: 100 mg/day CoQ10, 350 mg/day D-alpha-tocopherol, and 2 g/day concentrated fish oil. Fasting venous blood samples were collected twice before the first period and then after each period. Plasma and isolated lipoproteins were analysed for cholesterol, triacylglycerol, alpha- and gamma-tocopherol, CoQ10, and fatty acid composition.


RESULTS
Significant (P < 0.05) increase in CoQ10 and alpha-tocopherol occurred in all lipoprotein classes after supplementation. CoQ10 was primarily incorporated into low-density lipoprotein (LDL). alpha-tocopherol and fish oil n-3 PUFAs had similar patterns. They were equally distributed between LDL and high-density lipoprotein (HDL), with a smaller part in VLDL. The total sum of PUFA was unchanged following all supplementations, but fish oil increased the amount of n-3 fatty acids at the expense of n-6 fatty acids.


CONCLUSIONS
Lipoprotein distribution of CoQ10 is markedly different from that of alpha-tocopherol, suggesting that they may be metabolised by distinct routes. alpha-Tocopherol is distributed similarly to n-3 fatty acids, thus providing protection on location for the oxidatively labile PUFAs.
Sunesen
V H
VH
Department of Biochemistry and Nutrition, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby.
Weber
C
C
Hølmer
G
G
D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003067:Coenzymes; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014451:Ubiquinone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood
D000975:Antioxidants; D003067:Coenzymes; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D005395:Fish Oils; D008074:Lipoproteins; D014280:Triglycerides; D014451:Ubiquinone; D014810:Vitamin E; D002784:Cholesterol; C024989:coenzyme Q10