Remnant lipoproteins are related to intima-media thickness of the carotid artery independently of LDL cholesterol and plasma triglycerides

Remnants of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins (TRL) have been implicated in th e early development of atherosclerosis, We tested this hypothesis by quanti fying the plasma concentration of remnant-like particle cholesterol (RLP-C) in a cohort of healthy 50-year-old men in whom the common carotid artery i ntima-media thickness (CCA-IMT) was assessed by B-mode ultrasound as a surr ogate marker for atherosclerosis, The subjects were given a fat-rich meal t o study the generation of RLP-C during postprandial lipemia, Fasting plasma RLP-C and other major fasting plasma lipids and lipoproteins were determin ed twice, and the mean RLP-C concentration was strongly correlated with CCA -IMT (r = 0.32, P = 0.002), In addition, low density lipoprotein (LDL) chol esterol (r = 0.25, P = 0.01) and plasma triglycerides (r 0.20, P = 0.05) we re significantly related to CCA-IMT. Multivariate analyses showed a triglyc eride-independent contribution of RLP-C to CCA-IMT. After fat intake, the m edian plasma RLP-C concentration was doubled after 3 h, The increase was st rongly related to the postprandial generation of TRL apolipoprotein (apo)B- 48, and large (S-f 60-400) TRL apoB-100, The association with CCA-IMT was s omewhat stronger for the 3-h RLP-C level than for the fasting RLP-C concent ration [r = 0.27, P < 0.01 (3 h) compared with r = 0.22, P < 0.05 (0 h)]. W e conclude that the plasma concentration of RLP-C is related to CCA-IMT, in dependent of plasma triglycerides and LDL cholesterol, in a healthy middle- aged male population.