Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Enviromental factors such as life style changes and dieatary factors become more important on the background of coronary artery disease (CAD). The thiols were the main part of the non-enzymatic antioxidant system in the body and they are the first defensive molecules in elimination of oxidant agents. As a result, thiol levels may be an earlier indicator for CAD. There is limited data on the relation of dietary factors with thiol/disulfide homeostasis in patients with CAD. Therofore the aim of the study was to evaluate relationship between dietary factors and thiol/disulfide homeostasis in patients with CAD.

Methods: Fifty-four patients diagnosed with CAD and 74 healthy volunteers were included in the study. Blood samples were collected for biochemical markers. Nutrition assessment was done once at the time of recruitment; based on previous two days 24 h dietary recall. Serum thiol/disulfide homeostasis was studied with a new and fully automatic analysis method.

Results: There was no age difference between CAD and control groups (P=0.08). Also, presences of hypertension, dyslipidemia were similar in all groups. There were significant differences between CAD and healthy volunteers in native thiol (P=0.000), total thiol (P=0.000), disulfide/native thiol (P=0.042), disulfide/total thiol (P=0.004), and native thiol/total thiol (P=0.005). There were no significant differences in disulfide levels between two groups (P=0,61). Patients with known CAD had similar protein (P=0.09) and fat intake (P=0.08) but had significantly lower energy (P=0.002) carbonhydrate intake (P<0.001) and dietary fiber intake (P=0.001) as compared to control group. Among vitamins; folic acid, niacin, riboflavin, total B6, vitamin A, vitamin C and beta-caroten were similar in CAD and control group except thiamine. (P=0.047). There was significantly lower intake of minerals in CAD. Carbonhydrate intake was correlated with native thiol and total thiol levels in CAD patients. (P<0.001 and P<0.001 respectively). Protein was correlated with native thiol (P=0.005) and total thiol levels (P=0.001). Also dietary fiber showed relation with native thiol (P<0.001)and total thiol levels (P<0.001) but did not show any relation with disulphide levels (P=0.101). But fat showed relation with only total thiol (P=0.029).

Conclusions: In this study oxidation parameters were decreased in CAD patients. Diet is one of the factor affecting CAD and can be related to the oxidation parameters such as thiol/disulfide homeostasis. Increased dietary fiber consumption is associated with increased antioxidant capacity. Carbonhydrate and total dietary fiber intake are associated with thiol/disulfide homeostasis in patients with CAD.