Effect of Thyroid Function on LDL Oxidation

From the Centro per lo Studio dell'Ipertensione Arteriosa, delle Dislipidemie e dell'Arteriosclerosi (F. Costantini, S.D.P., D.D.C., F. Cuccurullo, A.M.), and the Thyroid Unit (P.D.R., M.T.G., S.S.), Department of Medicine and Ageing Science, and Institute of Biochemistry (T.B.), University Gabriele D'Annunzio, School of Medicine, Chieti, Italy; the Centro Regionale per L'Arteriosclerosi (G.B.-B., G.C.), Ospedale Civile, Venezia, Italy; and the Clinical Pathology Laboratory of the S.S. Annunziata Hospital, ASL 04 (G.N.), Chieti, Italy.

Abstract—In this study, the effect of different levels of thyroid hormone and metabolic activity on low density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation was investigated. Thus, in 16 patients with hyperthyroidism, 16 with hypothyroidism, and 16 age- and sex-matched healthy normolipidemic control subjects, the native LDL content in lipid peroxides, vitamin E, ß-carotene, and lycopene, as well as the susceptibility of these particles to undergo lipid peroxidation, was assessed. Hyperthyroidism was associated with significantly higher lipid peroxidation, as characterized by a higher native LDL content in lipid peroxides, a lower lag phase, and a higher oxidation rate than in the other two groups. This elevated lipid peroxidation was associated with a lower LDL antioxidant concentration. Interestingly, hypothyroid patients showed an intermediate behavior. In fact, in hypothyroidism, LDL oxidation was significantly lower than in hyperthyroidism but higher than in the control group. Hypothyroidism was also characterized by the highest ß-carotene LDL content, whereas vitamin E was significantly lower than in control subjects. In hyperthyroidism but not in the other two groups, LDL oxidation was strongly influenced by free thyroxine blood content. In fact in this group, the native LDL lipid peroxide content and the lag phase were directly and indirectly, respectively, related to free thyroxine blood levels. On the contrary, in hypothyroidism LDL oxidation was strongly and significantly related to serum lipids. In conclusion, both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism are characterized by higher levels of LDL oxidation when compared with normolipidemic control subjects. In hyperthyroid patients, the increased lipid peroxidation was strictly related to free thyroxine levels, whereas in hypothyroidism it was strongly influenced by serum lipids.

Key Words: thyroid hormone • lipid peroxidation • LDL oxidation • antioxidant vitamins

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