Evaluation of Lipid Peroxidation Parameters in Small Nationality - Tofalars, Living in Siberia

Abstract

Background Individual biological effects of adaptation to extreme environmental conditions and reserve potentialities of an organism are, largely, genetically determined. One of the universal mechanisms of an organism’s defense under extreme conditions is the synthesis of unspecific factors - antioxidants. The aim of this work was to study peculiarities of lipid peroxidation and antioxidant defense in Tofalars versus non-indigenous girls. Methods Tofalars are the inhabitants of the Siberia, living in highland zone. They concern to the small population groups of the North (756 persons). The blood samples were taken from 35 teenages girls (17 Tofalars (indigenous), average age = 13.94±0.44, and 18 Caucasian (non-indigenous) girls, average age = 14.06±0.42). Spectrophotometric and fluorometric methods for studying the lipid peroxidation and antioxidant status have been used. Results A comparative content analysis of the primary lipid peroxidation products - diene conjugates - showed higher values of this parameter in the indigenous girls (1.5 times, p=0.0009), as compared to non-indigenous, with no changes in the content of the final TBA-active products (p>0.05). In antioxidant defense system of native girls, there were registered higher values of the total AOA - 1.45 times higher (p=0.0006), tocopherol - 1.29 times higher (p=0.0227 and retinol -1.34 times higher (p=0.0420) as compared to non-indigenous girls. Conclusion The differences in lipid peroxidation and antioxidant defense status between Tofalars and Caucasians have been observed. The probable explanation to this serves as genetic factors and metabolism features at Tofalars in comparison with Caucasians living at the same conditions. We can conclude that under the extreme climate of Tofalars girls of the native ethnos, in contrast to non-indigenous, exhibit adaptive reactions of lipid peroxidation.