Gemfibrozil lowers plasma lipids and increases polyunsaturated fatty acid content and oxidative susceptibility of lipoproteins in hypertriglyceridemia.

Background: Gemfibrozil is an effective drug in the treatment of hypertriglyceridemia and its effects on morbidity and mortality seem out of proportion to its lipid lowering actions. There is considerable interest in its potential effects on lipoprotein fatty acid composition and consequent effect on oxidative susceptibility. Experimental results are not conclusive regarding whether gemfibrozil alters lipid composition or oxidative susceptibility of lipoproteins in humans.

Simple and rapid assessment of lipoprotein susceptibility to oxidation in the macromolecule fraction of plasma.

Background: Susceptibility of lipoprotein to oxidation is usually studied using purified lipoproteins. However, for large clinical studies or routine clinical assessment, a rapid, less time-consuming method that minimizes hydroperoxide accumulation in lipoprotein during preparation is desirable. Methods using whole plasma are complicated by the presence of an anticoagulant that may affect oxidation and the presence of antioxidants in the plasma aqueous phase.

Lipoprotein susceptibility to oxidation in the macromolecular fraction of plasma: relation to plasma lipids and oleate/linoleate ratio in comparison with whole plasma in hypertriglyceridemia.

Background: Susceptibility of lipoprotein to oxidation is usually studied using purified lipoproteins. However, for large clinical studies or routine clinical assessment, a rapid less time-consuming method is desirable. Therefore, we studied copper-mediated oxidation of the macromolecule fraction of plasma in comparison with oxidation directly in whole unfractionated plasma in a group of hyperlipidemic individuals.