Aim This study was conducted to understand whether malondialdehyde (MDA) had a chemotactic activity for human peripheral blood monocytes. Methods The monocyte chemotaxis assay was performed by micropore filter method using a modified Boyden chamber. MDA was prepared by the method described by Kikugawa. Results The mean of migration distances (85.37 ± 10.44 μm, 109.03 ± 7.88 μm, and 122.67 ± 6.25 μm) induced by MDA at low (0.05 mmol/L), middle (0.5 mmol/L), and high (1 mmol/L) concentrations, respectively, were significantly longer than that of the random migration group (69.88 ± 8.19 μm). The analysis of variance showed that there was significant difference between the low concentration group and the random migration group (P<0.05), whereas the mean of migration distances in the middle and high concentration groups and in the random migration group was highly statistically different (P<0.001). Furthermore, the monocyte migration in the chemotaxis group was enhanced by MDA in a dose-dependent manner. The mean of migration distances in the chemokinesis group (110.72 + 7.32 μm) was significantly longer than that of the random migration group as well. Conclusions Malondialdehyde is significantly chemotactic and chemokinetic for peripheral blood monocytes. It suggests that malondialdehyde might play certain role in the recruitment of the monocytes/macrophages in the arterial intima during early stage of atherogenesis.