Lack of association between lipaemia and central adiposity in subjects with an atherogenic lipoprotein phenotype (ALP)

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the associations between indices of adiposity and cardiovascular risk factors in individuals with an atherogenic lipoprotein phenotype (ALP). SUBJECTS: Fifty-five men, aged 34 - 69 y, body mass index (BMI) 22 - 35 kg/ m(2), with an ALP lipid profile (triglycerides (TG) 1.5 - 4.0 mmol/l, HDL < 1.1 mmol/l; %LDL-3 > 40% total LDL). DESIGN: Each participant provided a fasting blood sample and underwent an 8 h postprandial assessment and had anthropometric measurements taken. OUTCOME MEASURES: BMI, waist circumference (W), waist-to-hip ratio (W/H). s um of skinfolds (SSK), fasting and postprandial concentrations of glucose, insulin and plasma lipids, post-heparin lipase activity, and apoE genotype. RESULTS: The expected positive associations between BMI. W and SSK and fast ing and postprandial insulin were observed (r=0.42-0.65), Little associatio n between glucose responses and any measures of adiposity was evident. Unex pectedly, there were no positive associations between measures of central a diposity (W and W/H) and fasting and postprandial TG responses, with a tren d towards negative associations in this study group (TG AUC vs W, r=-0.23, P=0.097; TG IAUC vs W/H, r=-0.26, P=0.068). Subgroup analysis indicated tha t lack of a positive association between central adiposity and postprandial TG values was more evident in those with one E4 allele (r=-0.42, P=0.077) relative to non-E4 carriers (r=-0.16, P=0.430). The expected positive assoc iations between insulin and TG responses were not observed (r=-0.03 to -0.3 6). CONCLUSION: In this ALP group the expected positive association between TG responses and a centralized distribution of body fat was not observed, part icularly in individuals with an apoE4 genotype. Our findings are not in lin e with the view that there is a clear causal relationship between insulin r esistance and the lipid abnormalities associated with ALP.