Plasma lipid peroxides: relationships to cardiovascular risk factors and prevalent cardiovascular disease

Background: The epidemiology of plasma lipid peroxides, which may play a role in atherogenesis, has not been well defined. Aim: To study the relationships of plasma lipid peroxides to cardiovascular risk factors in a random population sample. Design: Random, age- and sex-stratified population sample. Methods: We studied 739 men and women aged 25-74 years. Lipid peroxides were assayed by the thiobarbituric acid (TBA) assay for malonclialdehyde (MDA) in stored plasma samples. Results: Lipid peroxide levels increased with age. In men, lipid peroxides were significantly associated with smoking habit. Lipid peroxides correlated with non-fasting serum triglycerides (r=0.33; p<0.0001) in both sexes. Weaker associations were observed for cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (inversely), body mass index, fibrinogen and white cell count; as well as an inverse association with serum vitamin C in men. Discussion: These findings clarify the relationships of plasma lipid peroxides to cardiovascular risk factors; and are consistent with the hypothesis that lipid peroxidation may be one mechanism through which several risk factors may promote cardiovascular disease.