Decreased myocardial fatty acid utilization in the elderly and in hypertensive LVH

• Published in: American journal of hypertension 2000-04, Vol.13 (4), p.3A-3A
• Main Authors: Vedala, G, Kates, A.M, Herrero, P, Gropler, R.J, Davila-Roman, V.G
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: fatty acid utilization; Left ventricular hypertrophy; positron emission tomography
• ISSN: 0895-7061; 1879-1905; 1941-7225
• DOI: 10.1016/S0895-7061(00)00308-3

The clinical manifestations of LVH worsen with age. Experimental models of aging suggest that this may be mediated, at least in part, by abnormalities in myocardial blood flow (MBF) and intermediary metabolism (i.e. fatty acids). Furthermore, animal models of LVH have shown a reduction in myocardial fatty acid utilization (MFAU). To determine whether abnormalities in MFAU are present in the normal elderly (E) and in patients with hypertension and LVH, measurements of MBF (ml/g/min), myocardial oxygen consumption (MVO2, μmol/g/min), and fasting MFAU (μmol/g/min) were measured at rest using positron emission tomography in 4 patients with hypertension and LVH (age 63 ± 8; 3 male; LV mass index 106 ± 13 g/m2), 6 normal elderly subjects (age 64 ± 4; 4 male), and 3 normal young (Y) subjects (age 24 ± 1; 3 male). All groups had normal exercise stress echocardiograms, fasting lipid and glucose levels, and were nondiabetic and nonsmokers. Levels of MBF, MVO2, and plasma free fatty acids were similar for all groups (p=NS for all). The MFAU (corrected for MVO2) in the normal elderly was lower compared with normal young (3.2 × 10−2 ± 5.3 × 10−3 vs. 4.1 × 10−2 ± 7.1 × 10−3, p=0.03, respectively), and was even lower in the hypertension and LVH patients (2.3 × 10−2 ± 4.2 × 10−3, p=0.04 vs E and p