Increased malondialdehyde levels in coronary heart disease.

OBJECTIVE To assess and compare the status of lipid peroxidation, both in control subjects and in coronary heart disease patients. METHODS Serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and malondialdehyde levels were determined in 46 patients with coronary heart disease and 50 age matched control healthy subjects. 29 male coronary heart disease patients were divided into smoker (n = 19) and nonsmoker (n = 10) groups, to observe the effect of smoking on lipid peroxidation in coronary heart disease patients. RESULTS Malondialdehyde and lipid parameters were found significantly high (P < 0.001) with the exception of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol which was significantly low (P < 0.001) in coronary heart disease patients. Smokers with coronary heart disease showed significantly increased (P < 0.025) malondialdehyde levels as compared to nonsmokers with coronary heart disease. CONCLUSION Elevated serum levels of malondialdehyde indicate increase in the level of production of oxygen free radicals, suggesting their possible role in atherogenesis, leading to coronary heart disease.