Environmental contaminants and redox status of coenzyme Q10 and vitamin E in Inuit from Nunavik

Abstract

The Inuit are heavily exposed to potentially prooxidant contaminants such as methylmercury (MeHg) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) through their traditional diet. This diet is also an abundant source of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA), selenium, and antioxidants, which might reduce cardiovascular risk. Although Inuit from Nunavik have low concentrations of plasma oxidized low-density lipoprotein (OxLDL) and elevated glutathione-related antioxidant defenses, the variance in OxLDL was predicted by PCB and blood glutathione, leaving the issue of contaminant-associated oxidative stress unresolved. The objective of the study was to assess oxidative stress in these Inuit by measuring the plasma concentrations and redox states of α-tocopherol and coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), 2 sensitive biomarkers of oxidative stress, in relation to exposure. Plasma lipophilic antioxidants were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography–coupled electrochemical detection; and their relations to PCB, MeHg, n-3 PUFA, selenium, and OxLDL were assessed by multivariate analyses. Ubiquinol-10, ubiquinone-10, and ubiquinone-10 to CoQ10 total ratio were elevated as compared with white populations but showed no associations with PCB, MeHg, or n-3 PUFA. Ubiquinol-10 ( β = .23, P = .007) and CoQ10 total ( β = .27, P = .009) were predicted by blood selenium; and α-tocopherol, by PCB ( β = 4.12, P = .0002), n-3 PUFA ( β = 9.16, P = .02), and OxLDL ( β = 3.04, P = .05). Unexpectedly, the α-tocopheryl quinone to α-tocopherol ratio, in the reference range, was negatively predicted by PCB ( β = −0.41, P = .02). Using sensitive biomarkers of redox alterations, we found no evidence for MeHg- or PCB-associated oxidative stress in these Inuit. However, despite robust blood antioxidant defenses, the unusually elevated ubiquinone-10 to CoQ10 total ratio (0.21 ± 0.11) suggests some form of oxidative stress of unknown origin.