LIPOPROTEIN DISTRIBUTION AND COMPOSITION IN OBESITY - THEIR ASSOCIATION WITH CENTRAL ADIPOSITY

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationships between the distribution and c omposition of subfractions of very low density (VLDL), low density (ID L) and high density (HDL) lipoproteins and central fat deposition as m easured by the waist-to-hip ratio (WHR). DESIGN: Participants (n=62, 4 4 women and 18 men; body mass index (BMI)greater than or equal to 25.0 ) were recruited from those consecutively attending the outpatient obe sity clinic at the University Hospital. Geneva. MEASUREMENTS: Lipoprot ein subfractions were isolated from fasting blood samples by cumulativ e flotation or density gradient ultracentrifugation. Concentration and composition were analysed as a function of obesity indices. RESULTS: There were significant correlations between the WHR and the profiles o f the three major lipoprotein subclasses. Central obesity was associat ed with larger VLDL, small, dense LDL and lower levels of HDL-2 indepe ndently of other indices of obesity and plasma triglycerides. Central obesity was also significantly and independently associated with compo sitional anomalies, specifically an increased free cholesterol content of VLDL and LDL. CONCLUSIONS: Central body fat was associated with mo difications of an atherogenic nature to lipoprotein distribution and c omposition. The data are consistent with an impact of body fat distrib ution on cardiovascular disease (CVD) via the agency of modified lipop rotein metabolism independently of raised triglycerides.