Brachial artery flow-mediated dilation and asymmetrical dimethylarginine in the cardiovascular risk in young Finns study.
BACKGROUND
Elevated asymmetrical dimethylarginine (ADMA) is a novel risk factor for atherosclerosis that may impair endothelial function by interfering with endothelial nitric oxide synthesis. To gain insight into the effects of ADMA on systemic endothelial function, we examined the association between ADMA and brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) in a large population of young adults.


RESULTS
Plasma ADMA and brachial FMD, as well as conventional cardiovascular risk factors, were measured in 2096 white adults aged 24 to 39 years. In univariate analysis, ADMA was inversely correlated with FMD (r=-0.07, P=0.003). The inverse association between ADMA and FMD remained significant in a multivariable regression model adjusted for age, sex, conventional cardiovascular risk factors, estimated glomerular filtration rate, and brachial artery baseline diameter (beta+/-SE -1.56+/-0.62%, P=0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that elevated plasma ADMA concentrations are associated with decreased brachial FMD responses in healthy adults. These data provide evidence at the population level that ADMA levels are associated with endothelial function.
Juonala
Markus
M
Department of Medicine, University of Turku, 20521 Turku, Finland.
Viikari
Jorma S A
JS
Alfthan
Georg
G
Marniemi
Jukka
J
Kähönen
Mika
M
Taittonen
Leena
L
Laitinen
Tomi
T
Raitakari
Olli T
OT
D000328:Adult; D001120:Arginine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D015415:Biomarkers; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D018056:Hemorheology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D012306:Risk; D012494:Sampling Studies; D014664:Vasodilation
D015415:Biomarkers; C024917:symmetric dimethylarginine; C018524:N,N-dimethylarginine; D001120:Arginine; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III