title: Plasma antioxidant activity and vascular dementia.
abstract: Little is known about the role of antioxidant activity in the pathogenesis of stroke-associated neuronal damage and impairment following a stroke. Increased free radical formation together with reduced antioxidant defense may increase neuronal injury. A low concentration of antioxidants such as alpha-tocopherol may influence the development of post-stroke dementia. The aim of this study was to evaluate the level of alpha-tocopherol and susceptibility of LDL to oxidation in a group of patients with dementia in comparison to controls. In a group of 68 patients with dementia, according to DSM-IV criteria, 42 with vascular dementia (VaD), 26 with Alzheimer type of dementia (AD) and 46 age-matched persons, with no signs of cognitive disorders (control group), we measured lipids, alpha-tocopherol and the kinetics of LDL oxidation. The levels of triglycerides (TG) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) were significantly lower in patients with VaD in comparison to AD patients, but the atherogenic index was similar in both groups. alpha-Tocopherol was significantly lower in patients with VaD in comparison to patients with AD and controls: 9.9, 12.6 and 12.6 ng/ml, respectively, p<0.0001. Susceptibility of LDL to oxidation, measured by duration of lag phase did not reveal statistically significant differences between the groups. In patients with VaD, low levels of plasma alpha-tocopherol were observed, which indicate a reduced antioxidant defense in these subjects.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, National Institute of Cardiology, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Danuta
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ryglewicz
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rodo
authors.forename: Piotr Krzysztof
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Kunicki
authors.forename: Malgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bednarska-Makaruk
authors.forename: Alla
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Graban
authors.forename: Wanda
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lojkowska
authors.forename: Hanna
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wehr
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000523:psychology; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D015140:Dementia, Vascular / Q000097:blood* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D014810:Vitamin E; D002784:Cholesterol