Association of plasma markers of cholesterol homeostasis with metabolic syndrome components. A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background and aims Increased plasma phytosterols, which reflect enhanced cholesterol absorption, have been related to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, high CVD risk conditions, such as obesity, diabetes and the metabolic syndrome (MetS) have been associated with reduced cholesterol absorption. We investigated associations between plasma noncholesterol sterols and MetS components. Methods and results With a cross-sectional design, we related MetS components to plasma noncholesterol sterol-to-cholesterol ratios measured by gas chromatography in 674 dyslipidemic patients and 361 healthy subjects participating in a prospective cohort study. Plasma phytosterol-to-cholesterol ratios were inversely associated with all components of the MetS. In the dyslipidemic group, multivariable analyses showed that a 1-SD increase in sitosterol-to-cholesterol ratio was associated with a reduced risk for any MetS feature, ranging from 0.57 (95% CI, 0.45 to 0.71) for visceral adiposity to 0.82 (95% CI, 0.69 to 0.98) for high blood pressure. The risk of having MetS was nearly halved, with ORs of 0.49 (95% CI, 0.38 to 0.64) or 0.56 (95% CI, 0.44–0.70), depending on the definition. Results were opposed for plasma lathosterol, a marker of cholesterol synthesis. Most findings were reproduced in the healthy cohort. ApoE genotype was unrelated to plasma noncholesterol sterols. Conclusion In both dyslipidemic and healthy populations, MetS is associated with increased plasma lathosterol, a cholesterol synthesis marker, and decreased plasma sitosterol, a marker of cholesterol absorption. Elevated plasma phytosterols related to a lower frequency of cardiometabolic risk factors, suggesting that they are associated with a reduced CVD risk.