Ozone therapy improves the antioxidant status of high-density lipoproteins and reduces lipid peroxidation in coronary artery disease patients.

Resumen

Coronary arte ry disease (CAD) is the mo st c om mo n c aus e of death in western
societie s. Epid emiological studies have found that p l asma concentration of high
density lipoproteins (HDL) correlates inversely with the incidence of CAD. The quality
and functionality of HDL, more than quantity, appears to be an important predictor of
antiatherogenic properties of these particles. Epidemiological evidence demonstrates
that low HDL-paraoxonase activity is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular
disease. Evidence that antioxidant enzymes, and other subcellular activities could be
modulated by low doses of ozone is now proven and support itsclinical a pplication.
The aim of the prese nt s tudy was to evaluate t he effect of ozone therapy on
paraoxonase 1 lactonase activity and lipid damage in CAD patients. We included 52
pa tients in the clinical study. The first g roup (n=26) recei ved 20 sessi ons of ozone
(40μg/mL; 200 mL) by rectal insufflation, meanwhile the second one was treated with
oxygen only (n=2 6, co ntro l group). A t the end of the study we determ i ned
spectrophotometri cally the paraoxonase-lactonase activity, and the LDL and serum
susceptibility to lipid peroxidation. The results showed that ozone therapy was able to
red uce the malondialdehyde levels in trea ted p atie nts at the same tim e tha t
paraoxonase 1 lactonase a ctivity w as sign i ficantly (p<0. 05) increased. Our results
suggestthat ozone may be used in combination with the conventional drugs for CAD
therapy. Nevertheless, future clinical trials will be necessary to establish how long HDL
antioxidant status is maintained after therapy and how often it will be nec essary to
repeat the ozone treatment.