ESTIMATION OF SIALIC ACID IN CARDIAC PATIENTS

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Abstract

.Objectives: Lipids are common conjugates of serum lipoproteins while sialic acid is present in combination with lipids and
proteins as glycolipids and glycoproteins respectively. This study was aimed to get some preliminary information regarding the possible
correlation between serum sialic acid and lipid profile in cardiac patients to investigate the possibility of using these parameters to aid the
diagnosis and prognosis. Material and methods: Normal subjects (15) and Cardiac patients (42) were estimated. Total cholesterol , Total
lipid, Triglycerides , HDL-C and Serum Sialic acid was measured. Duration and place :One year (Jan-Dec. 2005) at POF Hospital ,Wah Cantt.
Results: Total lipids 523.4 ± 136.2 mg/dl, Total Cholesterol 142.7 ± 43.3 mg/dl, Triglyceride 81.5 ± 51.6 mg/dl, HDL-C 25.51 ± 10.3 mg/dl and
Sialic acid was estimated to be 150.8 ± 41.1 mg/dl in normal subjects, while in cardiac patients (n = 42) the level of total lipid was 747.5 ± 247.8
mg/dl, total cholesterol 174.0 ± 43.4 mg/dl, triglyceride 154.5 ± 147.8 mg/dl and HDL-cholesterol was 18.1 ± 10.6 mg/dl while Sialic acid was
estimated to be 216.1 ± 57.0 mg/dl in cardiac patients. Conclusion: Results indicate that all the parameters i.e. total lipid, cholesterol,
triglyceride and sialic acid except HDL-cholesterol, studied were significantly higher in cardiac patients (P < 0.01) while HDL-cholesterol was
significantly lower in these patients (P < 0.01).One possible explanation to this could be the dietary habits of the people of this area who prefer
to consume vegetable oils which are considered to be rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, rather than a lower intake of fat rich diet. In addition
to this, these people consume substantially large quantities of garlic and onions which again are considered to generate hypocholesterolemic
effects.