[Effect of an anti-atherosclerotic diet with different protein content on catecholamine and DOPA excretion in patients with ischemic heart disease and excess weight].

In patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD) with excess body weight the excretion of catecholamines and DOPA was investigated. In patients of middle and advanced age the excretion of norepinephrine was found to be down, while in those of the young age the excretion of epinephrine and norepinephrine proved to be up. There exist a correlation between the rising level of norepinephrine and hyperlipidemia. In patients with IHD the blood serotonin content is elevated. The use of an antiatherosclerotic diet with a higher protein content tends to bring down the level of the norepinephrine and, partially, also of epinephrine excretion. With patients kept on an antiatherosclerotic diet with protein content the excretion of norepinephrine sharply decreases and that of epinephrine rises. Administration of pyridoxine superimposed upon dietary variants acts favorably on the catecholamines excretion. Under the effect of the diets in question the blood serotonin remains unchanged. The implication is that both the high- and low-protein quotas in the composition of antiatherosclerotic diets do not produce an optimal effect on the catecholamines and DOPA metabolism in patients with IHD and an excess body weight.