Biomarkers of oxidative damage are elevated among individuals with high cardiovascular risk: Refining subject selection strategies for antioxidant trials

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of Framingham risk scores (FRRs) to identify high-risk individuals with biochemical evidence of increased oxidative damage, who may benefit from antioxidant therapies. A bimodal change in plasma F₂-isoprostane levels was observed with cardiovascular risk categories, while plasma neuroprostanes, 7α-hydroxycholesterol, and serum γ-glutamyltransferase levels were higher among individuals at high risk of cardiovascular events (Framingham score, > 36). Total plasma hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid products (HETEs) and serum high-sensitivity CRP (hsCRP) levels were consistently higher across Framingham risk categories. Multivariable analysis identified plasma 7α-hydroxycholesterol (odds ratio (OR), 1.06; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.03–1.10) and γ-glutamyltransferase (OR, 1.02; 95% CI, 1.01–1.03) as significant predictors of high cardiovascular risk (Framingham score, > 36), accounting for approximately 21% of its variation. Cardiovascular risk scores are useful to identify individuals with high burden of oxidative damage who may benefit from antioxidant therapy.

Keywords::

• oxidative damage
• oxysterols
• atherosclerosis
• biomarkers
• docosahexaenoic acid

Acknowledgments

We are grateful to the study participants who participated voluntarily in this study. We thank Professor Jason Morrow (deceased), Dr Ginger Milne, and the Eicosanoid Core Laboratory at Vanderbilt University for providing the standards for neuroprostane measurements.

Declaration of interest

The authors report no declarations of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

This study is supported by the Singapore National Research Foundation and the National Medical Research Council.