Association of sex, adiposity, and diet with HDL subclasses in middle-aged Chinese.
BACKGROUND
There is limited information regarding the associations of lifestyle factors and sex with HDL subclasses containing apolipoprotein (apo) A-I (Lp A-I) and both apo A-I and apo A-II (Lp A-I:A-II).


OBJECTIVE
We sought to examine the relations between 2 major HDL subclasses and sex, menopausal status, nutrient intakes, and adiposity.


METHODS
We conducted interviews and measured blood variables in 409 government employees aged 40-59 y in Taiwan.


RESULTS
Women (n = 203) had significantly higher concentrations of HDL cholesterol, Lp A-I, and Lp A-I:A-II than did men (n = 206). Postmenopausal women (n = 72) had higher concentrations of HDL cholesterol, Lp A-I, and Lp A-I:A-II than did premenopausal women (n = 131). Body mass index and waist-to-hip ratio were strong predictors of and exerted an independent additive effect on Lp A-I concentrations in both men and women. However, body adiposity was associated with Lp A-I:A-II concentrations only in men. Waist-to-hip ratio was an independent determinant of Lp A-I but not of Lp A-I:A-II in men and postmenopausal women after adjustment for age, body mass index, smoking, and diet. Although there were relatively weak associations between dietary factors and both HDL subclasses (r = 0.01-0.26) in men and women according to bivariate analyses, multiple regression models showed that total fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol intakes were significantly correlated with HDL cholesterol and both Lp A-I and Lp A-I:A-II in men, but not in women.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data suggest that body adiposity and dietary fat consumption affect 2 major HDL subclasses differently depending on subject sex and menopausal status.
Lyu
L C
LC
Graduate Program of Nutrition, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China. t10010@cc.ntnu.edu.tw
Yeh
C Y
CY
Lichtenstein
A H
AH
Li
Z
Z
Ordovas
J M
JM
Schaefer
E J
EJ
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D000328:Adult; D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I / Q000097:blood*; D016633:Apolipoprotein A-II / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001824:Body Constitution; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008019:Life Style; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008593:Menopause / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012737:Sex Factors; D013624:Taiwan
D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I; D016633:Apolipoprotein A-II; D015415:Biomarkers; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL