Evaluation of Cholesterol Synthesis and Absorption Pathways in Patients with Cardiovascular Diseases

Nowadays, coronary artery diseases (CADs) are among the most common diseases in societies. The aim of this study was to study the interplay between cholesterol absorption and synthesis in two groups of Iranian patients with CAD by measuring the markers of cholesterol synthesis and absorption pathways in plasma.

The study population included 128 patients undergoing clinically indicated coronary angiography. Patients were divided into two groups after scoring the severity of their coronary stenosis; the S-stenosis group (patients with CAD, n = 75) had a significant stenosis indicated by coronary angiography, and the second group, N-stenosis (n = 55), had no significant coronary stenosis. Fasting plasma samples were used to measure cholesterol absorption and synthesis markers by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS).

The level of cholesterol absorption markers in patients with coronary artery stenosis was slightly increased compared to patients without coronary artery stenosis, but this change was statistically significant only for cholestanol (P < 0.050). In terms of cholesterol synthesis markers, the results did not show any significant differences between the two groups (P > 0.050 for all).

Study of cholesterol synthesis and absorption markers has not been reported in Iranian patients before. This article reports the results of such study for the first time. Considering the high prevalence of CADs and the importance of cholesterol metabolism in pathology of these diseases, the results may be used to understand some underlying mechanisms of development and progression of these diseases, and to manage the patient better.