Distribution and Cardiovascular Risk Correlates of Serum Triglycerides in Young Japanese Adults.

Abstract

To examine the distribution and cardiovascular risk correlates of serum triglycerides, a cross-sectional population study based on annual health examinations at the workplace was performed in 2199 young Japanese adults aged 23 to 37 years. Triglyceride levels showed significant sex (male > female) differences, and the percentages of those with high triglycerides (≥ 150 mg/dl) were 9.4% for males and 0.8% for females. In terms of conjoint trait of dyslipidemia, 86.1% of males displayed normal levels of both triglycerides (< 150 mg/dl) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (≥ 40 mg/dl), while 98.7% of females had normal values. Age-and sex-specific triglyceride levels above the 75th percentile (equivalent to 82-116 mg/dl for males and 56-63 mg/dl for females) increased the risk (odds ratio (OR)) for having obesity, hypertension, and hyperuricemia by 2.9 (95% confidence interval (CI)=2.0-4.3), 1.7 (CI=1.1-2.9), and 3.0 (CI=1.6-5.9), respectively. The respective ORs for triglyceride levels above the 75th percentile and HDL cholesterol below the 25th percentile (equivalent to 45-49 mg/dl for males and 58-63 mg/dl for females), compared with triglyceride levels the 75th percentile or less and HDL cholesterol levels the 25th percentile or more, were 8.7 (CI=5.8-12.9), 2.2 (CI=1.5-3.3), and 6.0 (CI=3.2-11.5). Our results suggest a threshold effect of triglyceride levels considered as normal on enhanced cardiovascular risk in young Japanese adults, especially in those with low HDL cholesterol levels.

Blood Lipids: A Shortcut From Hostility to Chd?

“…In this respect both LDL and triglycerides are believed to play, differentially, a key role in maintaining the quantity of serum cholesterol: LDL is the main cholesterol-rich lipoprotein in plasma (Thompson and Wilson, 1992) contributing to atherosclerotic plaguing (Fricchione et al, 1996;, while triglycerides are associated with a pattern of obesity, central adiposity and insulin resistance which can exert effects on blood pressure, the latter being an established CHD risk factor. It is generally accepted nowadays that attention to hypertriglyceridemia with respect to increased CHD risk represents an important step in assessing global risk for CHD development (Niaura et al, 2000;Nakanishi et al, 2002).…”

Triglycerides and Cardiovascular Disease

“…A low fasting triglyceride level (ie, Ͻ100 mg/dL) is commonly found in underdeveloped societies and countries at low CVD risk (eg, Africa, China, Greece, and Japan), [361][362][363][364][365][366][367][368][369][370][371][372][373] as contrasted with the United States, where mean levels are Ϸ15% to 30% higher. 6 Consistent with a reduced likelihood of abnormal metabolic parameters (eg, IR) are observational studies and clinical trials 3,232,367,374 -380 that have consistently demonstrated the lowest risk of incident and recurrent CVD in association with the lowest fasting triglyceride levels.…”

Effects of a Weight Management Program for Overweighted or Obese Office Workers

“…6) HDL-C: high density lipoprotein cholesterol. 7) TG: triglyceride. 8) LDL-C: low density lipoprotein cholesterol.…”