Reduction of Arteriosclerotic Nanoplaque Formation and Size by n-3 Fatty Acids in Patients after Valvular Defect Operation

Abstract

Background/Methods: Coating a silica surface with the isolated lipoprotein receptor heparan sulfate proteoglycan (HS-PG) from arterial endothelium and vascular matrices, we could observe the very earliest stages of arteriosclerotic plaque development by ellipsometric techniques in vitro (patent EP 0 946 876). This so-called nanoplaque formation is represented by the ternary aggregational complex of the HS-PG receptor, lipoprotein particles and calcium ions. The model was validated in several clinical studies on statins in cardiovascular high-risk patients applying their native blood lipoprotein fractions. Results: In 7 patients who had undergone a valvular defect operation, the reduction of arteriosclerotic nanoplaque formation in normal Krebs solution amounted to 6.1 ± 2.3% (p < 0.0156) and of nanoplaque size to 37.5 ± 13.2% (p < 0.0312), respectively, after a 3-month therapy with n-3 fatty acids (3 ··3 g daily, Ameu® 500 mg). Additionally, the quotient oxLDL/LDL was lowered by 6.8 ± 2.1% (p < 0.0166), the MDA concentration remained unchanged and the lipoprotein(a) concentration decreased by 15.8 ± 5.6% (p < 0.0469) in the patients’ blood. The concentration of the nanoplaque promoting particles VLDL and total triglycerides was diminished by 34.1 ± 11.6% (p < 0.0469) and 26.7 ± 10.8% (p < 0.0156), respectively. Furthermore, the ratio of the strongly atherogenic small dense to the total LDL cholesterol (LDL5+LDL6)/LDLtot decreased by 9.9 ± 3.0% (p < 0.0174). Conclusions: A combinatorial regression analysis revealed a basis for a mechanistic explanation of nanoplaque reduction under n-3 fatty acid treatment. This effect was possibly due to the beneficial changes in lipid concentrations and an attenuation of the risk factors oxLDL/LDL and (LDL5+LDL6)/LDLtot.

Multifunctional Block Copolymers for Simultaneous Solubilization of Poorly Water‐Soluble Cholesterol and Hydroxyapatite Crystals

“…Second, the environmental conditions have been tightened up by replacing the media with an ionic blood‐mimicking solution and furthermore, by covering the targeted compounds in a gel matrix of kappa‐carrageenan. G2 – 2 polymer was dispersed in a blood‐mimicking medium (exempt of calcium ions), in the presence of solid cholesterol and hydroxyapatite (Figures S85 and S86, Supporting Information). G2 – 2 polymer was found to simultaneously absorb 4 wt% cholesterol and 1 wt% calcium (0.17 Ca 2+ /COO − ).…”