Lipoprotein distribution and composition in obesity: their association with central adiposity

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationships between the distribution and composition of subfractions of very low density (VLDL), low density (LDL) and high density (HDL) lipoproteins and central fat deposition as measured by the waist-to-hip ratio (WHR). DESIGN: Participants (n 62, 44 women and 18 men; body mass index (BMI) ! 25.0) were recruited from those consecutively attending the outpatient obesity clinic at the University Hospital, Geneva. MEASUREMENTS: Lipoprotein subfractions were isolated from fasting blood samples by cumulative¯otation or density gradient ultracentrifugation. Concentration and composition were analysed as a function of obesity indices. RESULTS: There were signi®cant correlations between the WHR and the pro®les of the three major lipoprotein subclasses. Central obesity was associated with larger VLDL, small, dense LDL and lower levels of HDL-2 independently of other indices of obesity and plasma triglycerides. Central obesity was also signi®cantly and independently associated with compositional anomalies, speci®cally an increased free cholesterol content of VLDL and LDL. CONCLUSIONS: Central body fat was associated with modi®cations of an atherogenic nature to lipoprotein distribution and composition. The data are consistent with an impact of body fat distribution on cardiovascular disease (CVD) via the agency of modi®ed lipoprotein metabolism independently of raised triglycerides.

Abdominal obesity in the United States: prevalence and attributable risk of hypertension

“…[3][4][5][6][7][8] Traditionally, evidence for the strong relationship between abdominal obesity and CVD had often been assessed by WHR. However, although WHR reflects central fat distribution it is a less than ideal measure of visceral fat accumulation.…”

“…1 Subsequently, numerous epidemiological studies supporting a positive association between central or abdominal adiposity and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) risk factors have been published. [2][3][4][5][6][7][8] While computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) remain the best methods for estimating abdominal adiposity, they are impractical in large epidemiological studies because they are laborious and expensive. Hence, anthropometric alternatives are often used in epidemiological studies to determine abdominal obesity.…”

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

“…17,24,25 Whilst it might be expected that similar relationships between centralized body fat distribution, insulin resistance and triglyceride concentrations would be observed in subjects with an ALP, there have been few studies which have examined this, either by means of a comparison of ALP subjects with an appropriate control group, or within an ALP group, by evaluation of associations between anthropometric measurements and lipid and insulin values.…”

Gender-Dependent Associations of Metabolite Profiles and Body Fat Distribution in a Healthy Population with Central Obesity: Towards Metabolomics Diagnostics

“…Moreover, lipoprotein subclasses and particles have been considered to play a critical role in the assessment of coronary heart disease (Ala-Korpela, 2008; Despres et al, 1990;Superko, 2001). Central obesity, as measured by waist-to-hip ratio, has been shown to be associated with modifications in lipoprotein distribution and composition indicative of CVD ( James et al, 1997). In another study, the visceral fat area was positively correlated with certain VLDL and LDL subclasses and negatively with large and medium HDL subclasses in male obese subjects (Okazaki et al, 2005).…”