Correlations of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) predominant particle diameter
s (PPD) were investigated in samples taken from the San Antonio Family Hear
t Study. A frequency histogram showed LDL PPD occurs in at least two distin
ct modes, at about 25.5 and 26.9 nm, with the nadir at about 26.2 nm. Trigl
yceride (TG) concentrations were strongly correlated with LDL PPD, accounti
ng for nearly 50% of the variation. However, examination of the relationshi
p between TG concentrations and LDL PPD showed considerable overlap of the
two LDL size categories for samples having intermediate levels of TG (1-3 m
mol/l). In order to examine the factors associated with particle size varia
tion within this region of overlap, 163 pairs of samples, which contrasted
peak particle diameters, were matched for TG concentrations and for sex and
age. In this matched set, LDL-related measures (i.e. LDL-C. apoB, apoE, an
d TG concentrations) did not differ. However, several high-density lipoprot
ein (HDL) measures were significantly related to the LDL particle size cate
gory. This category predicted a substantial proportion of variation in HDL-
C (9.7%) and apoAI (7.5%) concentrations, and in HDL size distributions of
cholesterol (13.6%) and apoAI (10.3%). Other traits related to insulin resi
stance syndrome (IRS) (glucose and insulin concentrations, blood pressure,
and adiposity measures) were tested for association with the LDL size categ
ory. None of these traits were related to LDL size after adjusting for TG,
except fasting and postchallenge glucose concentrations which showed modest
correlations (P-values were 0.02 and 0.05, respectively). The data suggest
that in addition to the strong effects of TG, then is also an aspect of LD
L particle size variation that is strongly associated with variation in HDL
concentration and particle size distribution, perhaps reflecting common me
tabolic determinants of lipoprotein size. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland
Ltd. All rights reserved.