Association between serum sialic acid concentration and carotid atherosclerosis measured by B-mode ultrasound. The ARIC Investigators. Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study.
BACKGROUND
Previous studies have shown that the serum level of sialic acid is associated positively with mortality from coronary disease and stroke. In this study its relation with carotid atherosclerosis was evaluated.


METHODS
From the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study, 323 cases with carotid intima-media wall thickness above the 90th percentile (measured with B-mode ultrasound) were matched 1:1 with controls without atherosclerosis. Serum sialic acid, plasma LDL and HDL cholesterol, serum insulin concentrations, blood pressure, antihypertensive medication use, and smoking status were used to assess the independent contribution of the sialic acid level to carotid atherosclerosis.


RESULTS
The mean (SD) serum sialic acid concentration was 75.0 (9.7) mg/dl in cases and 70.7 (8.9) mg/dl in controls (P = 0.0001). In a conditional logistic model with adjustment for age, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, serum insulin, smoking and hypertension, the odds ratio associated with sialic acid above the 75th percentile (> or = 78.3 mg/dl) versus below was 1.65 with a 95% confidence interval of 1.01-2.70.


CONCLUSIONS
The sialic acid level is correlated with the presence of carotid atherosclerosis, independently of major cardiovascular disease risk factors. The biological mechanism behind this association is not resolved.
Råstam
L
L
Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA.
Lindberg
G
G
Folsom
A R
AR
Burke
G L
GL
Nilsson-Ehle
P
P
Lundblad
A
A
D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019158:N-Acetylneuraminic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D014463:Ultrasonography
D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D007328:Insulin; D019158:N-Acetylneuraminic Acid