Abstract 9165: Relationship Between the Cholesterol and Triglyceride Content of Lipoprotein Subclasses and Carotid Imtima-Media Thickness: Results from the Kyushu and Okinawa Population Study

Abstract

Introduction: The association between 20 lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides subclasses and carotid intimal medial thickness (cIMT) progression has not been evaluated fully. Objective: Our goal was to assess which lipoprotein subclasses were associated with max cIMT levels. Methods: Levels of cIMT and 20 lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides subclasses using gel permeation high-performance liquid chromatography (GP-HPLC) were analyzed in 864 men and women (mean age 57 years, free of chronic liver or kidney diseases and off cholesterol-lowering, hormone replacement, or adrenocorticosteroid medications). Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were performed to examine the relationships between lipoprotein subclasses and max cIMT levels. Results: Max cIMT levels were 0.90 mm in women and 0.97 mm in men. After adjustment for age, gender, systolic blood pressure, smoking habits, diabetes, and hypertension treatment, elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol-2 and -3 were associated with higher max cIMT levels in both women and men. Decreased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol-7 were associated with higher max cIMT levels only in women (all P for trend < 0.05). However, no associations were found between any triglyceride subclasses and max cIMT levels. Conclusions: Our data indicate that elevated smaller LDL cholesterol levels separated by GP-HPLC were significantly associated with max cIMT in both men and women. Our results support the concept that small dense LDL cholesterol is the most atherogenic lipoprotein parameter.