ASSOCIATION OF POSTPRANDIAL TRIGLYCERIDE AND RETINYL PALMITATE RESPONSES WITH ASYMPTOMATIC CAROTID-ARTERY ATHEROSCLEROSIS IN MIDDLE-AGED MEN AND WOMEN - THE ATHEROSCLEROSIS RISK IN COMMUNITIES (ARIC) STUDY

Blood lipid alterations after a fatty meal may be atherogenic, but the re is little information regarding their associations with disease ind ependent of fasting lipids. Asymptomatic atherosclerosis cases (n=229) and 373 control subjects free of atherosclerosis, as defined by carot id intima-media thickness on ultrasound images, were given a fatty mea l with vitamin A, followed by 3.5- and 8-hour measurements of triglyce rides (TGs), TG-rich lipoprotein TGs, apoproteinB48, and retinyl palmi tate. Among white men and women but not among blacks, case status was associated with greater postprandial responses of TGs and TG-rich lipo protein TGs, but only in nonobese persons (body mass index <30 kg/m(2) ). The associations were strong and significant after controlling for coronary risk factors (odds ratio, approximate to 2.0) and fasting TGs (odds ratio, 1.5). Associations with other postprandial lipid measure ments did not persist after controlling for fasting lipids. Elevated p ostprandial TGs appear to be an independent risk factor for carotid in timal thickening in nonobese whites. The lack of such a relation in ob ese subjects and the lipid profile they manifest suggest that postpran dial TGs must be accompanied by accumulation of TG-rich lipoprotein re mnants atherogenic.