Paraoxonase activity in Greek migrants and Anglo-Celtic persons in the Melbourne Collaborative Cohort Study: relationship to dietary markers

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Greek migrants to Australia have low all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality. This may be partly due to maintenance of a traditional Mediterranean diet and its interaction with CVD risk factors. The enzyme paraoxonase-1 (PON1) is thought to contribute to the anti-atherogenic properties of high density lipoproteins (HDL) by metabolizing lipid peroxides. PON1 activity is subject to modulation by dietary and genetic factors. AIMS: To determine PON1 activity in Greek migrants and Anglo-Celtic subjects recruited from the Melbourne Collaborative Cohort Study, and its relationship to coronary risk factors and dietary markers. METHODS: Greek (n = 127) and Anglo-Celtic (n = 1..