GSH and other blood antioxidants as early risk factors for atherosclerosis in azores

Objectivo

The main objective of the present study is to understand the high prevalence of low plasma levels of GSH in the Azorean population, regarded as a possible, early risk factor for AT in the archipelago, as already seen in other populations (Ashfaq et al., 2006; Shimizu et al., 2004).
In this study, we will focus on a group of apparently healthy subjects from Ponta Delgada and, as a reference for comparison purposes, a similar group from Lisbon.

To accomplish these objectives, we aim:

• To determine the plasma aminothiol profile, namely GSH levels;
• To quantify some Hcy and GSH determinants, like serum vitamins (B12, B6 and folate) and serum γ-GT activity, respectively;
• To evaluate several endogenous and exogenous oxidative stress markers both in plasma and/or erythrocytes, namely the GSH/GSSG ratio, activities of SOD, GPX, CAT and GR enzymes , as well as vitamins A, C and E;
• To measure the activity of both GCS and GSH synthetase in erythrocytes;
• To quantify some chemical elements (Ca , Mg, Fe, Cu, Zn and Se) in plasma;
• To quantify the gene expression of GSH transporter;
• To compare all these parameters with those from a similar group from Lisbon, in order to understand why the Azores Islands have the highest death rate for ischaemic heart disease in the country.