PLASMA APOLIPOPROTEIN-A-I, APOLIPOPROTEIN-B, AND LIPOPROTEIN(A) CONCENTRATIONS IN NORMOGLYCEMIC HISPANICS AND NON-HISPANIC WHITES FROM THE SAN-LUIS VALLEY, COLORADO

Lower levels of plasma apolipoprotein (ape) A-I and higher levels of a poB, lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)), and the ratio of apoB to apoA-I are consi dered to be independent risk factors for coronary heart disease. To ex amine race differences in the distributions of plasma levels of apoA-I , apoB, and Lp(a), the authors have determined quantitative levels of these traits in 252 nondiabetic Hispanics and 459 nondiabetic non-Hisp anic whites (NHWs) from the San Luis Valley, Colorado, Hispanic men an d women, respectively, had significantly higher plasma apoB levels (p < 0.003; p < 0.01) and the ratio of apoB to apoA-I (p < 0.003; p < 0.0 003) than their NHW counterparts, Plasma Lp(a) concentrations were als o significantly higher in Hispanic men (p < 0.003) and apoA-I levels w ere significantly lower in Hispanic women (p < 0.0003) than NHW men an d women, respectively. Overall, the threshold points of apoA-I (<120 m g/dl), apoB (>120 mg/dl), and Lp(a) (>25 mg/dl) were higher in Hispani cs than in NHWs for apoA-I (22.8 vs. 15.7%), apoB (16.9 vs, 9.9%), and Lp(a) (18.6 vs, 12.4%). These data suggest that the quantitative risk profile for coronary heart disease with respect to these three quanti tative traits is not favorable for Hispanics compared with that for NH Ws in the San Luis Valley, Colorado.