title: Influence of age and sex on levels of anti-oxidized LDL antibodies and anti-LDL immune complexes in the general population.
abstract: Most studies of antibodies to oxidized LDL have been undertaken in patients with different diseases and cardiovascular risk factors. However, very few studies have researched the distribution and determining factors of antibodies to oxidized LDL in the general population. A total of 1,354 persons (817 females and 537 males) aged 5-65 years were included in this study. They were selected randomly from the population census of Málaga, in southern Spain. The females had lower levels of total cholesterol and triglycerides and higher levels of HDL-cholesterol and a very significant increase (P < 0.0001) in levels of anti-oxidized LDL [low density lipoprotein modified by malondialdehyde (MDA-LDL)] antibodies but no difference in levels of immune complexes consisting of LDL and IgG antibodies (anti-LDL immune complex). Younger persons (16-35 years) had higher levels of anti-oxidized LDL (MDA-LDL) antibodies than persons older than 35 years (P = 0.05). Levels of immune complexes were significantly higher (P = 0.05) in persons aged 5-15 years than in persons older than 40 years. A very weak association was found between levels of anti-oxidized LDL (MDA-LDL) antibodies and anti-LDL immune complexes. The higher prevalence of anti-oxidized LDL (MDA-LDL) antibodies in females and young persons is in agreement with studies that found an inverse association between atherosclerosis and the level of these antibodies.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Endocrinología y Nutrición, Carlos Haya Regional University Hospital, Málaga, Spain. fjtinahones@terra.es
authors.forename: Francisco J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Tinahones
authors.forename: Juan Miguel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Gómez-Zumaquero
authors.forename: Lourdes
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Garrido-Sánchez
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: García-Fuentes
authors.forename: Gemma
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rojo-Martínez
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Esteva
authors.forename: Maria Soledad
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Ruiz de Adana
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cardona
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Soriguer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000097:blood*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000276:immunology; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values; D012044:Regression Analysis; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013030:Spain
chemical_list: D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D001323:Autoantibodies; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; C099252:oxidized low density lipoprotein; D002784:Cholesterol