Nutrition Research
Volume 24, Issue 5 , Pages 361-371, May 2004

α-tocopherol is important to inhibit low-density lipoprotein oxidation in smokers

  • Chin-San Liu

      Affiliations

    • Department of Neurology and Neuroscience, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan
    • Department of Neurology, Kung Tien General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
    • Department of Neurology, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Tien-Hui Chiang

      Affiliations

    • Institute of Nutritional Science, Chung Shan Medical University, No. 110, Sec. 1, Chien Kuo N Rd, Taichung, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Chen-Ling Kuo

      Affiliations

    • Department of Neurology and Neuroscience, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Chong-Kuei Lii

      Affiliations

    • Institute of Nutritional Science, Chung Shan Medical University, No. 110, Sec. 1, Chien Kuo N Rd, Taichung, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Chu-Chyn Ou

      Affiliations

    • Institute of Nutritional Science, Chung Shan Medical University, No. 110, Sec. 1, Chien Kuo N Rd, Taichung, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Yau-Huei Wei

      Affiliations

    • Department of Biochemistry, School of Life Science, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Haw-Wen Chen

      Affiliations

    • Institute of Nutritional Science, Chung Shan Medical University, No. 110, Sec. 1, Chien Kuo N Rd, Taichung, Taiwan

Received 14 July 2003; received in revised form 29 October 2003; accepted 14 November 2003.

Abstract 

Smoking is recognized as an independent risk factor for atherosclerosis. This study was designed to study the effect of smoking on plasma and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) antioxidant concentrations and LDL oxidation susceptibility. A total of 89 subjects, consisting of 27 smokers and 62 nonsmokers, were recruited. Biochemical values and plasma ascorbic acid, α-tocopherol, and LDL α-tocopherol levels were assessed. LDL lag time, oxidation rate, and correlation between LDL α-tocopherol and LDL oxidation rate were determined. No differences were demonstrated for ascorbic acid and α-tocopherol concentrations in plasma between smokers and nonsmokers; however, LDL α-tocopherol was significantly higher for nonsmokers (P = 0.012). Furthermore, the lag time for LDL oxidation was significantly longer for nonsmokers (P = 0.019), whereas the LDL oxidation rate was significantly greater for smokers (P = 0.018). Additionally, a highly significant negative correlation was demonstrated for LDL α-tocopherol concentration and LDL oxidation rate in smokers (r = −0.440, P = 0.026), but not in nonsmokers. The results of this study suggest that LDL α-tocopherol is more susceptible to oxidative stress caused by smoking than ascorbic acid and α-tocopherol in plasma. For smokers, the presence of α-tocopherol in LDL effectively protects LDL from oxidation.

Keywords:  Smokers, α-Tocopherol, LDL oxidation rate, LDL lag time

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PII: S0271-5317(04)00037-5

doi:10.1016/j.nutres.2003.11.009

Nutrition Research
Volume 24, Issue 5 , Pages 361-371, May 2004

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