Dietary composition as a determinant of plasma asymmetric dimethylarginine in subjects with mild hypercholesterolemia.
Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) is an endogenous nitric oxide synthase inhibitor that participates in the regulation of vasodilatory function and is also linked to hypertension, whereas its stereoisomere, symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA), is biologically inactive. Dietary components influence vascular functions and a high-fat meal seems to increase postprandial plasma ADMA levels. However, it has not been published whether diet influences plasma ADMA levels. In this study, we investigated the impact of diet on plasma ADMA and SDMA levels. Thirty-four mildly hypercholesterolemic, otherwise healthy women (n = 14) and men (n = 20) with a mean age of 46.2 years (range, 35 to 62 years) participated in the study. The subjects were examined twice at intervals of 2 months. Seven-day food records were used to analyze diet and alcohol intake. ADMA was measured by using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-tandem mass spectrometry. In a multivariate analysis (R2 = 0.20, P < .002), low amount of energy received from carbohydrates (r = -0.31, P = .009) and high plasma triglycerides (r = 0.30, P = .01) were predictors of high ADMA plasma levels. Alcohol drinkers had higher plasma ADMA concentrations than abstainers (0.50 +/- 0.13 v 0.42 +/- 0.11 micromol/L, P = .04). Plasma ADMA correlated with systolic (r = 0.60, P = .005) and diastolic blood pressure (r = 0.53, P = .02) in abstainers but not in alcohol drinkers. Plasma SDMA was not associated with any dietary components or with blood pressure. In conclusion, a high amount of dietary carbohydrates is strongly associated with low levels of plasma ADMA. Concentration of ADMA in plasma seems to be higher in alcohol drinkers than in abstainers.
Department of Internal Medicine, Tampere University Hospital, Finland.
Hannu
H
Päivä
Terho
T
Lehtimäki
Juha
J
Laakso
Inkeri
I
Ruokonen
Riitta
R
Tervonen
Saara
S
Metso
Matti
M
Nikkilä
Erkki
E
Wuolijoki
Reijo
R
Laaksonen
D000328:Adult; D001120:Arginine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood* / Q000737:chemistry; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004032:Diet; D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D008875:Middle Aged; D000069463:Olive Oil; D010938:Plant Oils; D000074262:Rapeseed Oil; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013237:Stereoisomerism
D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated; D008055:Lipids; D000069463:Olive Oil; D010938:Plant Oils; D000074262:Rapeseed Oil; C487735:dimethylarginine; D001120:Arginine