Role of lipid Profile, circulating Malondialdehyde (MDA) and Oxidized LDL as a biochemical risk marker for coronary artery disease

Abstract

Background: Coronary artery disease remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality world-wide. Oxidized-LDL is a known contributor to atherosclerosis, a key pathological process underlying CAD. Malondialdehyde (MDA) is one of the main byproducts of lipid peroxidation. Cholesterol and other lipid parameters are regarded as important factors in coronary heart disease progression.

Objective: This study aims to investigate the levels of serum oxidized-LDL and MDA along with lipid levels and to find the association of Ox-LDL & serum MDA with lipid parameters across various categories of CAD as per the severity of disease.

Material & Methods: After obeying the inclusion and exclusion criteria,  a total of 190 patients with an age group of >40 years diagnosed with coronary artery disease (CAD) attending the OPD/IPD of Teerthanker Mahaveer Hospital were finalized as the study population. The serum levels of Ox-LDL & MDA were assessed by using separate ELISA kits.

Results: After correction for age, sex, and lipid profile, serum values of Ox-LDL and MDA were elevated significantly in early-stage CAD. The increase in ox-LDL & MDA was more pronounced in advanced stages of CAD, with levels rising progressively as CAD stenosis severity (p < 0.001). Serum Ox-LDL ( r= 0.39, p< 0.001) & MDA (r= 0.45, p< 0.001) were correlated positively with serum total cholesterol, LDL & TG. However, Ox-LDL (r = -0.61, p < 0.01) & MDA (r= -0.49, p< 0.001) showed inverse correlation with HDL levels.

Conclusion: Our findings indicate a significant correlation of elevated ox-LDL and MDA levels with adverse lipid profile changes and CAD progression, underscoring their potential as biomarkers for disease severity and progression in CAD. Our findings also support the concept that serum lipids are important CHD risk factors.