Determination of the alpha-tocopherol inhibition rate constant for peroxidation in low-density lipoprotein.

This work reports an estimate of the inhibition rate constant (k(inh)) for alpha-tocopherol (alpha-TOH) in low-density lipoproteins (LDL) based on cholesteryl linoleate hydroperoxide products formed during autoxidation of intact lipoproteins. The ratio of cis,trans/trans,trans product hydroperoxides was determined during the consumption of the antioxidant. For a reasonable determination of k(inh) in LDL, the pro-oxidant behavior of alpha-TOH was minimized by oxidizing LDL with an unsymmetrical amphiphilic azo initiator which significantly reduces phase-transfer mediated pro-oxidant effects of alpha-TOH. This initiator delivers a more constant flux of initiator radicals into LDL lipid regions and permits determination of alpha-TOH k(inh) in LDL. Development of a tocopherol-mediated peroxidation (TMP) model and analysis of cholesteryl linoleate hydroperoxide cis,trans/trans,trans product ratios provided an estimated value for the inhibition rate constant of alpha-TOH in a lipoprotein of k(inh) = 5.9 +/- 0.5 x 10(5) M(-)(1) s(-)(1)