Composition of LDL particle discriminates between hypercholesterolaemic persons with and without symptoms of coronary heart disease.

Background: It is well known that high total and LDL cholesterol concentrations are not prerequisites for ischemic heart disease. This study aimed to differentiate between patients with coronary heart symptoms and healthy subjects with high cholesterol concentrations, using other potential risk factors such as oxidation state, body iron status and the oxidative state of the LDL particle.

Methods: Healthy persons were divided in low cholesterol (<6 mmol/L) (LC) and high cholesterol (> or =6 mmol/L) (HC) groups.

Beneficial effects of blood donation on high density lipoprotein concentration and the oxidative potential of low density lipoprotein.

According to some authors blood donors have a lower risk of cardiovascular incidents. This may be associated with the risk of cardiovascular disease reported by some authors, as well as with the oxidative changes caused by iron. The aim of this study was to determine, what happens to some of the factors contributing to atherosclerosis after the lowering of body iron.