Serum α-tocopherol, retinol and carotenoid profiles of coronary artery disease patients versus healthy controls

Abstract

The present study was conducted to test the hypothesis that Malaysian patients with coronary atherosclerotic lesions which impede blood flow to the heart, have a poorer antioxidant nutrient status compared to healthy controls. Fasting serum samples from 316 coronary angioplasty (PTCA)/coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) patients (271 males, 45 females) and 162 apparently healthy individuals (102 males, 60 females), both groups aged 37-75 years, were analysed simultaneously for α-tocopherol (α-T), retinol and carotenoid profile (β-carotene, α-carotene, lycopene, and total carotenoids) using a new HPLC technique that involved a ternary mobile phase of acetonitrile, methanol and ethyl acetate (88: 10:2, v/v) and a μBondapak C₁₈ column. The results showed no evidence that serum α-T_std (standardized for total cholesterol plus triglycerides), retinol or lycopene status were poorer in patients versus healthy controls. However, serum α-carotene and β-carotene were 60-69% and 42-58% higher respectively, in healthy controls compared to the PTCA/CABG patients (all subgroups p<0.05 except for β-carotene in females). The present findings for α-tocopherol conflict with the reports on the vitamin's role as the principal antioxidant in vivo.