Abstract:
Apolipoproteins B (apoB) and Al (apoAI) are better
predictors of cardiovascular disease (CVD) than traditional lipid indices.
Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a constellation of CVD risk factors. Low
NHDLC/apoB ratio is used as a surrogate for the presence of highly atherogenic
small dense LDL (sd-LDL). Objectives: We aimed to assess if apoB and apoAI
levels were related to MetS and its components. Methods: Total cholesterol (TC),
high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC), triglycerides, glycated haemoglobin
(HbA1c), apolipoprotein B (apoB) and apolipoprotein A1 (apoA1) were measured
in fasting serum samples from 1007 individuals with diabetes (<45 years, males =
426). Low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLC) and non-HDLC were
calculated. MetS was diagnosed according to the International Diabetes
Federation criteria. Results: MetS was diagnosed in 608 individuals (males =
166). More women had MetS than men (p<0.0001). Means of HbA1c, TC,
HDLC, triglycerides, apoB and apoA1 were 8.04%, 5.08mmol/L, 1.47mmol/L,
1.08mmollL, 1.22g/L and 1.56g/L respectively. Levels of apoB, and apoB/A1
ratio were significantly higher in those with MetS than those without. LDLC/apoB
and HDLC/apoA1 ratios were significantly lower in MetS. There were no
significant differences in TC, LDLC, NHDLC and apoA1 between the two
groups. ApoB increased (p < 0.0001), apoA1 decreased (p<0.0001) and apoB/A1
increased (p<0.0001) when the number of MetS components increased.
Conclusions: Raised apoB is another CVD risk factor that clusters with other
components of MetS. Low NHDLC/apoB ratio imply that sd-LDL particles to be
more common in diabetic patients with MetS than those without MetS.
