title: Plasma lipophilic antioxidants and malondialdehyde in congestive heart failure patients: relationship to disease severity.
abstract: Plasma levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), vitamin A, and of antioxidant micronutrients including vitamin E, lutein, zeaxanthin, beta-cryptoxanthin, lycopene, and alpha- and beta-carotene were measured in 30 patients with class II and III congestive heart failure (CHF) according to the New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification and in 55 controls. Ejection fraction was evaluated by echocardiography in all patients as a measure of the emptying capacity of the heart. Plasma levels of all measured compounds were significantly lower and MDA significantly higher in patients compared to controls (p <.001). Class II NYHA patients showed significantly lower MDA levels and significantly higher levels of vitamin A, vitamin E, lutein, and lycopene than class III patients. Ejection fraction was inversely correlated with MDA levels and directly correlated with vitamin A, vitamin E, lutein, and lycopene levels in patients. The present study supports the concept that an increased consumption of vitamin-rich fruits and vegetables might help in achieving cardiovascular health.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physiological Chemistry I, Heinrich-Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany. polidori@uni-duesseldorf.de
authors.forename: Maria Cristina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Polidori
authors.forename: Ketty
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Savino
authors.forename: Gianfranco
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Alunni
authors.forename: Michela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Freddio
authors.forename: Umberto
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Senin
authors.forename: Helmut
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sies
authors.forename: Wilhelm
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Stahl
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mecocci
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000097:blood*; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000502:physiology; D014975:Lutein / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013318:Stroke Volume / Q000502:physiology; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood*; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000097:blood*; D024341:Xanthophylls; D065146:Zeaxanthins; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D024341:Xanthophylls; D065146:Zeaxanthins; D019207:beta Carotene; D014801:Vitamin A; D014810:Vitamin E; D002338:Carotenoids; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D014975:Lutein