Carnitine, Lipid Peroxidation and Nitric Oxide

In the United States it is estimated that more than 71 million people have one or more forms of cardiovascular disease (CVD) resulting in a large economic burden and a significant number of deaths annually. A large portion of these conditions involve arterial disease, which is a progressive disorder characterized by the accumulation of lipids and dead cellular debris in the artery walls. One of the likely precursors to atherosclerosis is dyslipidemia, a condition characterized by abnormal blood lipid levels typically involving elevated total and low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and triglycerides, in addition to decreased high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. An equally important concern is the oxidation of lipids, which appears to contribute to both the initiation and progression of atherosclerotic disease. Nitric oxide, an important signaling molecule promoting vasodilation by acting on vascular smooth muscle, also plays a major role in vascular function.