title: Brachial artery flow-mediated dilation and asymmetrical dimethylarginine in the cardiovascular risk in young Finns study.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Turku, 20521 Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Juonala
authors.forename: Jorma S A
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Viikari
authors.forename: Georg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Alfthan
authors.forename: Jukka
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Marniemi
authors.forename: Mika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kähönen
authors.forename: Leena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Taittonen
authors.forename: Tomi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Laitinen
authors.forename: Olli T
authors.initials: OT
authors.lastname: Raitakari
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; C024917:symmetric dimethylarginine; C018524:N,N-dimethylarginine; D001120:Arginine; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III