Effect of ursodeoxycholic acid on copper induced oxidation of low density lipoprotein.

The aim of this study was to investigate copper (Cu++) induced oxidation state of LDL isolated from obstructive jaundice (OBJ) patients with hyperlipidemia and the effect of UDCA on the same. LDL was isolated and oxidation was induced by 5 mM CuSO4 with/without UDCA at different concentrations. LDL oxidation was assessed at different time intervals in terms of conjugated dienes, hydroperoxides and 'thiobarbituric acid reacting substances' (TBARS). The change in the level of endogenous LDL alpha-tocopherol was also monitored simultaneously. The oxidisability of LDL isolated from OBJ patients was significantly higher and showed a steep increase in the level of conjugated diene formation without any lag phase. In normal samples the oxidation proceeded slowly with a lag phase. This was also evidenced by the level of formation of hydroperoxides and TBARS. The basal level of LDL alpha-tocopherol was significantly low in OBJ samples. UDCA was found to delay the oxidation of LDL in a dose dependent manner. The consumption of alpha-tocopherol was found to be minimum in the presence of UDCA. The results of this investigation show that there is a high susceptibility of LDL to oxidation in OBJ cases and this may be due to low endogenous LDL alpha-tocopherol content. UDCA minimizes LDL oxidation in dose dependent manner, which is an additional evidence for its antioxidant nature.