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

Ng TKW¹, Khor SC¹, Tee ES¹, Thong ML², Seow TY² 

1. Institute for Medical Research, 50588 Kuala Lumpur

2. National Heart Institute, 50400 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

CITATION: Ng TKW, Khor SC, Tee ES, Thong ML, Seow TY. Serum α-tocopherol, retinol and carotenoid profiles of coronary artery disease patients versus healthy controls. International Medical Research Journal. 1998 Jun;2(1):43–7. 

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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.

KEYWORDS: Serum α-tocopherol, retinal, carotenoids, coronary artery disease