No abstract

No abstract

Objective: To establish the normal lipoprotein profile in the population and identify the early warning signs of coronary heart disease (CHD). Design: Random blood sampling of healthy adults and patients with symptomatic CHD including that complicated with acute myocardial infarction. Methods: Plasma lipids, lipoproteins, lipid peroxidation, antioxidant enzymes and scavengers, red-cell membrane lipids and glycoproteins were assayed. Results and conclusion: The normal levels of plasma lipids and lipoproteins were established. Levels of plasma free fatty acids, fibrinogen, white blood cell counts, echinocytes, red-cell membrane lipids and protein-bound carbohydrate components are significantly higher in healthy subjects with coronary risk index above 4.5 than they are in normal individuals. Antioxidant defences appear to be the distinguishing factor, remaining higher in normal individuals and thus keeping lipid peroxidation under control. In symptomatic CHD, antioxidant defences are significantly lowered.