Relationship between hydrogen sulfide levels and HDL-cholesterol, adiponectin, and potassium levels in the blood of healthy subjects.

Hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S) is an important signaling molecule whose blood levels have been shown to be lower in certain disease states. Increasing evidence indicates that H(2)S plays a potentially significant role in many biological processes and that malfunctioning of H(2)S homeostasis may contribute to the pathogenesis of vascular inflammation and atherosclerosis. This study examined the fasting blood levels of H(2)S, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, adiponectin, resistin, and potassium in 36 healthy adult volunteers. There was a significant positive correlation between blood levels of H(2)S and HDL-cholesterol (r = 0.49, p = 0.003), adiponectin (r = 0.36, p = 0.04), and potassium (r = 0.34, p = 0.047), as well as a significant negative correlation with LDL/HDL levels (r = -0.39, p = 0.02). This is the first demonstration of an association of circulating levels of H(2)S with the HDL, LDL, and adiponectin homeostasis in the blood of healthy humans.