PLASMA HIGH-DENSITY-LIPOPROTEIN CHOLESTEROL BUT NOT APOLIPOPROTEIN-A-I IS A GOOD CORRELATE OF THE VISCERAL OBESITY-INSULIN RESISTANCE DYSLIPIDEMIC SYNDROME

Apolipoprotein (apo) A-I is a major component of high-density lipoprot eins (HDLs), and it has been suggested that measurement of apo A-I may provide additional information in the assessment of coronary heart di sease (CHD) risk. In the present study in a sample of 111 men (age [me an +/- SD], 35.3 +/- 6.6 years), we determined whether a low apo A-I c oncentration is associated with the cluster of metabolic abnormalities that characterize the visceral obesity-insulin resistance dyslipidemi c syndrome. For this purpose, the first and fourth quartiles of apo A- I and HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) concentrations were compared in relation to body fat distribution, glucose tolerance, and plasma insulin and l ipoprotein levels. Men in the first quartile (< the 25th percentile) o f HDL-C, as compared with men in the fourth quartile (> the 75th perce ntile), were characterized by an elevated visceral adipose tissue (AT) accumulation (P < .05), as well as by increased plasma levels of trig lycerides ([TGs] P < .0001), apo B (P < .0005), and insulin (P < .01). These differences were not found when the first and fourth quartiles of plasma apo A-I concentrations were compared. These results suggest that plasma levels of HDL-C are more closely associated with the vario us features of the visceral obesity-insulin resistance syndrome than p lasma apo A-I. Copyright (C) 1996 by W.B. Saunders Company