title: Plasma F2-isoprostanes and coronary artery calcification: the CARDIA Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Oxidation of lipids in lipoproteins and cells may initiate and enhance the early development of cardiovascular disease.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We assayed F(2)-isoprostanes, oxidation products of arachidonic acid, by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in a biracial cohort of 2850 young healthy adult men and women. Coronary artery calcification (CAC), a component of coronary artery atherosclerosis, was detectable in 10% of the cohort and appeared to be in its initial stages (Agatston scores <20 in 47% and <100 in 83% of CAC-positive participants). After adjusting for sex, clinical site, age, and race, the presence of any CAC was 24% more likely among those with high vs low concentrations of F(2)-isoprostanes [odds ratio (OR) = 1.24 per 92.2 pmol/L (32.7 ng/L; 1 SD of F(2)-isoprostanes); 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.09-1.41]. The OR was only slightly attenuated [1.18 per 92.2 pmol/L (32.7 ng/L); CI, 1.02-1.38] after further adjustment for body mass index, smoking, serum lipids, C-reactive protein, antioxidant supplementation use, diabetes, and blood pressure. As a continuous variable, the Agatston score increased by 6.9% per 92.2 pmol/L (32.7 ng/L) of F(2)-isoprostane concentration (P <0.01). Whereas CAC prevalence was lower in women than men, mean (SD), F(2)-isoprostanes were higher in women {190 (108.9) pmol/L [67.4 (38.6) ng/L]} than in men {140.4 (55.6) pmol/L [49.8 (19.7) ng/L]}. Nevertheless, F(2)-isoprostanes were associated with an increased risk of CAC in both sexes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This association between increased concentrations of circulating F(2)-isoprostanes and CAC in young healthy adults supports the hypothesis that oxidative damage is involved in the early development of atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, School of Medicine, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA. gross@epi.umn.edu
authors.forename: Myron
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gross
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Steffes
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Jacobs
authors.forename: Xinhua
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: Cora E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: Catherine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Loria
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000209:etiology*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000473:pathology*; D028441:F2-Isoprostanes / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D028441:F2-Isoprostanes