Enhanced nitric oxide production is closely associated with serum lipid concentrations in adolescents.
BACKGROUND
To investigate whether nitric oxide (NO) production is associated with serum lipid concentrations and body mass index (BMI), we measured serum nitrate and nitrites (NOx) concentrations, serum lipid profiles, and anthropometric parameters in 319 adolescents.


METHODS
Serum NOx concentrations were determined using the Griess reaction. Serum concentrations of triglyceride, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were measured by standard enzymatic procedures.


RESULTS
Subjects with increased serum cholesterol or triglyceride concentrations exhibited remarkably high NOx levels. Total cholesterol and triglyceride averaged 161.5+/-27.4 and 205.9+/-107.8 mg/dl in males with NOx >92.8 micromol/l (upper 20%), which were significantly above the values (132.4+/-17.2 and 58.1+/-20.3 mg/dl) in those with NOx <15.6 micromol/l (lower 20%). The prevalences of male adolescents with increased concentrations of cholesterol and triglyceride were significantly higher in the subjects with NOx > or =51.2 micromol/l than in those with NOx <51.2 micromol/l (8.9% and 22.2% vs. 1.6% and 2.3%, p<0.05, respectively). Correlation coefficients of serum lipid concentrations and anthropometric parameters vs. serum NOx concentrations were higher in males than in females for cholesterol (r=0.28 vs. 0.23), triglyceride (r=0.51 vs. 0.42), HDL-C (r=-0.25 vs. -0.16), and BMI (r=0.39 vs. 0.27).


CONCLUSIONS
NO production is closely associated with serum lipid concentrations in adolescents, and these associations are stronger in males than in females.
Department of Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, Inha University Hospital, 7-206, 3-ga, Shinheung-dong, Jung-gu, Inchon 400-711, South Korea. jwchoi@inha.ac.kr
Jong Weon
JW
Choi
D000293:Adolescent; D000886:Anthropometry; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D050897:Nitrate Reductase (NADPH); D009565:Nitrate Reductases / Q000737:chemistry; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D008055:Lipids; D014280:Triglycerides; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D002784:Cholesterol; D009565:Nitrate Reductases; D050897:Nitrate Reductase (NADPH)