Abstract-The mortality in coronary heart disease among 50-to 54-year-old men is 4 times higher in Lithuania than in Sweden. It was recently suggested that traditional risk factors could not explain this mortality difference. LDL of Lithuanian men showed, however, a lower resistance to oxidation than that of Swedish men. In addition, the plasma concentration of ␥-tocopherol, lycopene, and ␤-carotene were lower in Lithuanian men. In the present investigation, we determined plasma oxysterols in men from Lithuania and Sweden and found that the plasma concentration of 7␤-hydroxycholesterol was higher in Lithuanian men, 12Ϯ5 versus 9Ϯ8 (SD) ng/mL (Pϭ0.0011). This oxysterol is a cholesterol autoxidation product and there is no indication that it should have an enzymatic origin. Mean LDL oxidation lag time was shorter in Lithuanian men (75Ϯ14 versus 90Ϯ13 minutes, PϽ0.0001) and the concentration of LDL linoleic acid was lower (249Ϯ56 versus 292Ϯ54 g/mg of LDL protein, PϽ0.0001). Lipid corrected ␥-tocopherol was 0.07Ϯ0.02 mg/mL in Vilnius men and 0.12Ϯ0.04 mg/mL (PϽ0.0001) in Linköping men. There was a negative correlation between the concentration of 7␤-hydroxycholesterol and lag time (RϭϪ0.31, Pϭ0.0023). It is suggested that the higher 7␤-hydroxycholesterol concentration in Lithuanian men is an indication of an increased in vivo lipid peroxidation. (Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 1999;19:967-971.)Key Words: oxysterols Ⅲ LDL oxidation Ⅲ vitamins Ⅲ fatty acids Ⅲ cross-sectional study C oronary heart disease (CHD) incidence and mortality is rising in the East European countries, in contrast to the decreasing trend in Western Europe and in the United States. [1][2][3] For example, the mortality in CHD among 50-to 54-year-old men was 4 times higher in Lithuania than in Sweden in 1994. In LiVicordia I, a cross-sectional population study, we investigated the prevalence of ultrasound-detected subclinical atherosclerosis and possible causes for these diverging coronary mortality trends in the 2 countries. 4 Lithuanian men had more carotid atherosclerosis. Although traditional risk factors could not explain the difference in CHD mortality, we found that Lithuanian men had a higher LDL susceptibility to oxidation and lower concentrations of the plasma antioxidant vitamins ␥-tocopherol, ␤-carotene, and lycopene than Swedish men. There is a high correlation between the plasma concentrations of these vitamins and the corresponding vitamin content in LDL. 5 The increased susceptibility to oxidation and lower concentrations of LDLassociated vitamins in the Lithuanian population may be caused by dietary factors or an increased in vivo oxidation of LDL. We have recently shown that cholesterol oxidation products (oxysterols) are good markers of LDL oxidation in vitro. 6 In addition, the oxysterol 7␤-hydroxycholesterol, together with an increased oxidation susceptibility of VLDLϩLDL, were the strongest predictors of progression of carotid atherosclerosis in Finnish men. 7 We therefore decided to determine oxysterols in plasma from the 2 p...

Liutkevičius A., Speičienė V., Alenčikienė G., Mieželienė A., Narkevičius R., Kaminskas A., Abaravičius J.A., Vitkus D., Jablonskienė V., Sekmokienė D. The technology of a functional fermented buttermilk-based beverage was developed and the impact of beverage consumption on the health parameters of young volunteers was studied. Three functional beverages were made on the basis of buttermilk, which differed in the composition. The beverage containing the buttermilk-skimmed milk-milk protein concentrate (0.3%) as a product with the preferred quality characteristics (synaeresis, viscosity, sensory properties, and acceptability) was used for further studies regarding the impact on human health. The medical nutrition experiments did not show any statistically significant effect on the biochemical blood parameters of 25 young volunteers after a 21-day period of the consumption of fermented buttermilk beverage with milk protein concentrate, although some of them (e.g. total, low-and high-density cholesterol, triacylglycerol concentrations, etc.) slightly decreased. The anthropometric and body composition, arterial blood pressure, and pulse evaluation indicators of recipients did not change significantly.

BackgroundSelective immunoglobulin A (IgA) deficiency is the most common inherited immunodeficiency disorder world-wide. An early diagnosis is advocated because of the increased risk of infections, autoimmune diseases, and allergic reactions. We investigated the usefulness of a rapid point-of-care test in detecting for IgA deficiency in a population with a previously unknown prevalence.Material/MethodsAltogether, 1000 children aged 11–13 years from randomly selected Lithuanian schools were enrolled. A point-of-care test with a fingertip sample was used to screen for the presence of IgA deficiency in children whose parents gave consent. Those with suspected IgA deficiency were referred to hospital for further clinical examination and confirmation of the diagnosis. In addition, their medical histories were compared with those of 30 age- and sex-matched healthy controls.ResultsIgA deficiency was suspected in one girl and in three boys on the basis of the rapid test, and the diagnosis was confirmed for all four cases (prevalence 0.4%, 95% confidence interval 0.16–1.02%). There was no difference in disease history or complications between IgA-deficient children and healthy controls.ConclusionsThe rapid antibody test is a practical and accurate method to diagnose selective IgA deficiency in children. The prevalence of IgA deficiency among Lithuanian schoolchildren is 1:250.

Maternal undernutrition can affect offspring's physical status and various health parameters that might be transmittable across several generations. Many studies have focused on undernutrition throughout pregnancy, whereas maternal undernutrition prior to pregnancy is not sufficiently studied. The objective of our study was to explore the effects of food restriction prior to and during pregnancy on body weight and longevity of the second generation offspring. Adult female Wistar rats ("F0" generation) were 50% food restricted for one month prior to pregnancy (pre-pregnancy) or during pre-pregnancy and pregnancy. The third group was fed normally (control). The first generation offspring were normally fed until the 6 th month of age to produce the second generation offspring; namely, the first-generation female rats were mated with male breeders from outside the experiment. The second generation offspring thus obtained were observed until natural death (up to 36 months). Compared to the controls, the second-generation male offspring whose "grandmothers (F0 females)" undernourished only during pre-pregnancy were significantly heavier from the 8 th month of age, whereas no significant weight difference was found in the male offspring whose "grandmothers" were food-restricted during pre-pregnancy and pregnancy. Shorter lifespan was observed in the second-generation male offspring of "grandmothers" that were food-restricted either during pre-pregnancy or during pre-pregnancy and pregnancy. By contrast, no differences in body weight and lifespan were observed in all second-generation female offspring. In conclusion, maternal caloric restriction prior to pregnancy increases the body weight and shortens the longevity of the second-generation male offspring, indicating the sex-dependent transgenerational effect of maternal caloric restriction.

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