The determinants of plasma plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 levels differ for American and Japanese men aged 40-49.
BACKGROUND
Elevated plasma plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) levels were associated with higher incidence of type II diabetes. Elucidating the determinants of PAI-1 in various ethnicities may help to understand the susceptibility to developing diabetes. The aim of our study was to compare PAI-1 levels between Americans and the Japanese in the post-war generation and to elucidate the determinants of the PAI-1 levels.


METHODS
We conducted a cross-sectional study on a total of 198 men aged 40-49 in the US (Body mass index (BMI): 27.0+/-3.3 kg/m(2)) and Japan (BMI: 23.3+/-3.1 kg/m(2)). Examination included physique measurement (BMI and waist girth), blood analysis (lipid profiles, glucose, insulin, C-reactive protein, and PAI-1), and life-style assessment by self-administered questionnaires.


RESULTS
PAI-1 levels were significantly lower in American than in Japanese men, even after adjustment for age, waist girth, cigarette smoking, habitual alcohol drinking, and other factors. In the Americans, waist girth, insulin, and cigarette smoking were significantly associated with PAI-1 levels, while waist girth and triglycerides were significantly associated with PAI-1 levels in the Japanese.


CONCLUSIONS
PAI-1 levels were significantly lower in American than in Japanese men and the determinants of PAI-1 levels differ for American and Japanese men aged 40-49.
Takamiya
Tomoko
T
Department of Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh, PA, United States.
Kadowaki
Takashi
T
Zaky
Wahid R
WR
Ueshima
Hirotsugu
H
Evans
Rhobert W
RW
Okamura
Tomonori
T
Kashiwagi
Atsunori
A
Nakamura
Yasuyuki
Y
Kita
Yoshiyuki
Y
Tracy
Russell P
RP
Kuller
Lewis H
LH
Sekikawa
Akira
A
D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood* / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 / Q000097:blood*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014481:United States
D007328:Insulin; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1; C051321:SERPINE1 protein, human; D014280:Triglycerides