ELEVATED LIPOPROTEIN(A) LEVELS AND SMALL APO(A) ISOFORMS ARE COMPATIBLE WITH LONGEVITY - EVIDENCE FROM A LARGE POPULATION OF FRENCH CENTENARIANS

Epidemiological studies have shown lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) to be an ind ependent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Lp(a) is a cholestero l-rich, low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-like particle to which a large g lycoprotein, apolipoprotein(a) (apo(a)) is attached. Plasma Lp(a) leve ls are highly genetically determined and influenced to a minor degree by environmental factors. In an effort to determine whether Lp(a) migh t be associated with longevity, we have evaluated Lp(a) levels and apo (a) isoform sizes in a population of French centenarians (n = 109) com pared to a control group (n = 227). The mean age of centenarians was 1 01.5 +/- 2.4 years while the control group was 39.4 +/- 7.2 years. Pla sma levels of total cholesterol and triglyceride were within the norma l range in both centenarian and control subjects. Lp(a) levels were hi gher in centenarians (both male and female) than in the normolipidemic control group (mean Lp(a) level = 0.33 +/- 0.42 and 0.22 +/- 0.27 mg/ ml, respectively, P < 0.005). The distribution of apo(a) isoforms was significantly shifted towards small isoform size in the centenarian po pulation as compared to the controls (54.4 and 41.4% of isoforms less than or equal to 27 kringles (kr), respectively, P = 0.04). Nonetheles s, the apo(a) size distribution in centenarians did not entirely expla in the high Lp(a) levels observed in this population. Factors other th an apo(a) size, and which may be either genetic or environmental in na ture, appear to contribute to the elevated plasma Lp(a) levels of our centenarian population. We conclude therefore that high plasma Lp(a) l evels are compatible with longevity. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.