Circulating oxidized LDL is associated with parameters of the metabolic syndrome in postmenopausal women

Abstract

Oxidized low-density lipoproteins (ox-LDL) play a significant role in the development of atherosclerosis. Objective To investigate the relation between circulating ox-LDL and components of the metabolic syndrome (MS) in a sample of 124 postmenopausal women with varying glucose tolerance status. Methods This cross-sectional study included postmenopausal women not using hormone therapy. Ox-LDL concentrations were measured in plasma by a monoclonal antibody (mAb-4E6) based competition ELISA. LDL peak particle diameter (LDL-PPD) was measured by non-denaturating polyacrylamide gradient gel electrophoresis (PAGGE). Presence of the MS was determined according to the definition of the NCEP-ATPIII. Results Circulating ox-LDL concentrations were significantly associated with some factors of the MS such as triglyceride ( r = 0.48; p < 0.0001), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ( r = −0.34; p = 0.0001) and fasting plasma glucose concentrations ( r = 0.21; p = 0.02). Ox-LDL concentrations were also associated with LDL cholesterol ( r = 0.54; p < 0.0001), total cholesterol ( r = 0.48; p < 0.0001), LDL apolipoprotein B ( r = 0.62; p < 0.0001) and LDL-PPD ( r = −0.18; p < 0.05). Moreover, women with the MS had significantly higher ox-LDL concentrations (79.5 ± 28.3 U/l) compared to women without the MS (64.2 ± 19.9 U/l) ( p < 0.05). Conclusion Ox-LDL concentrations are associated with individual components of the MS and are significantly higher in postmenopausal women with MS compared to healthy postmenopausal women.