Glutathione, vitamin E and oxidative stress in coronary artery disease: relevance of age and gender.
BACKGROUND
Observational studies suggest that low levels of antioxidants are associated with high risk for coronary artery disease (CAD). We investigated whether the biomarkers of oxidative balance undergo the same modifications in all CAD patient groups, regardless of gender and age.


METHODS
One hundred sixty-eight CAD patients and 107 healthy controls were assayed for plasma levels of reduced glutathione (GSH), alpha- and gamma-tocopherol (alpha- and gamma-T) as endogenous antioxidants. A damage score (DS), representative of oxidative stress status, was calculated. ANCOVA models were used to test the association between antioxidants, DS and CAD and its modulation by age and gender.


RESULTS
The DS was higher in CAD than in controls. GSH levels, were lower in CAD patients (mean +/- SEM: 57.61 +/- 1.87 micromol 10 g(-1) haemoglobin vs. 68.55 +/- 2.23 in controls, P < 0.0006) in males and in older subjects. Levels of other antioxidants exhibited a complex pattern. Overall, no difference was found in alpha- and gamma-T contents between CAD and controls, but lower alpha-T values were observed in CAD females. A significant interaction between CAD status and gender was observed (P = 0.003).


CONCLUSIONS
Our study shows that the involvement of antioxidants in CAD is related to patients' characteristics. These findings may be relevant in planning antioxidant therapies.
Cavalca
V
V
Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy. viviana.cavalca@unimi.it
Veglia
F
F
Squellerio
I
I
Marenzi
G
G
Minardi
F
F
De Metrio
M
M
Cighetti
G
G
Boccotti
L
L
Ravagnani
P
P
Tremoli
E
E
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000097:blood*; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D005260:Female; D005978:Glutathione / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000097:blood*
D000975:Antioxidants; D015415:Biomarkers; D014810:Vitamin E; D005978:Glutathione