Effect of Hypolipidaemic Treatment on the Composition of VLDL and LDLLipoproteins, Fatty Acids and Indicators of Lipid Peroxidation in Patients with Hypercholesterolaemia

Overview

Background.
Oxidative modification of lipoproteins, in particular LDL, is considered a crucial step in thedevelopment of early atherosclerotic lesions. The oxidability of lipoproteins determines their atherogenic potential.A reduced resistance of LDL to oxidation is observed e.g. in patients with hyperlipoproteinaemia, hypertension anddiabetes mellitus. Some work indicates the possibility to influence the oxidability of lipoproteins in a favourableway by hypolipidaemic treatment.Methods and Results. 17 subjects with primary hypercholesterolaemia (phenotype IIA/IIB) was treated for sixweeks with pravastin (20 mg/day). Before onset and after termination of treatment concentrations of plasma lipidsand lipoproteins were assessed and parameters of lipid peroxidation of LDL lipoproteins evaluated by a modifiedmethod of assessment of conjugated LDL dienes according to Esterbauer. Treatment had a favourable effect on thelipid and lipoprotein profile (decline of total cholesterol by 24%, P < 0.01, LDL-C by 33%, P < 0.001, triglyceridesby 18%, P < 0.05, apo in plasma by 16%, P < 0.05 and in LDL by 28%, P < 0.001, and a rise of the cholesterolconcentration in HDL by 17%, P < 0.05). The authors observed also is significant prolongation of the lag time by23% (P < 0.01) and a decline of the basal absorbance by 10% (P < 0.05).Conclusions. Pravastin administered for a period of six weeks, 20 mg/day, caused a marked hypolipidaemic effectas well as significant reduction of oxidation and oxidability of LDL in patients with hypercholesterolaemia.

Key words:
hypercholesterolaemia, lipoprotein, pravastin, lipid peroxidation of LDL, lag phase.