Plasma Amino Acid Concentrations in Patients with Coronary Heart Disease: A Comparison between UK Indian Asian and Caucasian Men

Abstract

The pattern of plasma free amino acids (PFAAs) of subjects with coronary heart disease (CHD) and controls was investigated. PFAA concentrations of CHD patients (29 Caucasian, 20 UK Indian Asian) and controls (36 Caucasian, 27 UK Indian Asian) were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Plasma free alanine, tyrosine, and isoleucine concentrations were higher in UK Indian Asians compared with Caucasians. Plasma free alanine concentration was higher in CHD patients compared with controls, and the difference was mainly related to the presence of diabetes or elevated blood glucose in the former. Plasma free cysteine concentration was higher in CHD patients compared with controls; this does not seem to be affected by the eating habits of the two races, and seems to be a good marker for CHD and better than that of homocysteine. The data obtained in the present study showed no major alteration in PFAAs pattern in CHD patients except for that of cysteine.