title: The association between pre-hypertension status and oxidative stress markers related to atherosclerotic disease: the ATTICA study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We sought to evaluate the association between pre-hypertension status and oxidative stress markers (total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and oxidized low density lipoprotein (LDL)), in a random sample of cardiovascular disease-free adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  The ATTICA study is a cross-sectional population-based survey that conducted in Attica region during 2001-2002. Based on a multistage and stratified random sampling, 1514 men and 1528 women (18-89 years old) were enrolled. The survey included a detailed interview; blood samples collected after 12h of fasting and, among other clinical measurements, status of blood pressure levels was evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six hundred and fifty-three men (43%) and 535 women (35%) were defined as pre-hypertensives. Both systolic and diastolic blood pressures were inversely correlated with TAC (p<0.001) and positively correlated to oxidized LDL (p<0.001). Particularly, compared to normotensive subjects, pre-hypertensives had 7% lower TAC levels (p<0.001) and 15% higher oxidized LDL levels (p<0.05), after correcting for multiple comparisons and adjusting for age, body mass index, blood lipids, glucose, food groups consumed and other potential confounders.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Studying a large sample of cardiovascular disease-free adults, we revealed an association of pre-hypertension with oxidative stress markers linking to atherosclerotic process.
authors.affiliation: First Cardiology Clinic, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chrysohoou
authors.forename: Demosthenes B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Panagiotakos
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pitsavos
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Skoumas
authors.forename: Manolis
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Economou
authors.forename: Lambros
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Papadimitriou
authors.forename: Christodoulos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stefanadis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis*; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology*; D011159:Population Surveillance; D013223:Statistics as Topic
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL