[The effect of heredity and environmental conditions on the development of atherogenic metabolic shifts].

Lipid metabolism and lipid peroxidation (LPO) were studied in residents of St. Petersburg (healthy subjects without atherosclerosis history, healthy relatives of atherosclerotic patients, postmyocardial infarction patients, post-apoplectic patients and coronary heart disease sufferers) versus matched subjects living in rural area. Altogether 215 patients were examined. Besides genotype factors, lipid metabolism and LPO were found responsive to environmental factors. These were especially potent in changing the activity of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, catalase. In those living in the country myeloperoxidase, superoxide dismutase and catalase activity was higher than in city population. The latter exhibited, though, higher activity of glutathione peroxidase. It is evident that more advantageous ecological conditions have distinct antiatherogenic action on lipid metabolism and LPO, especially, suggesting possible treatment of atherosclerosis by moving to more healthy locality as regards environmental pollution.