title: High-density lipoprotein cholesterol and objective measures of lower extremity performance in older nondisabled persons: the InChianti study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the independent association between high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels and objective measures of lower extremity performance.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Community-based.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight hundred thirty-six nondisabled women and men aged 65 and older enrolled in the Invecchiare in Chianti study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Lower extremity performance was assessed using 4-m walking speed at fast pace, 400-m walking speed, and knee extension torque. Fasting HDL-C levels were determined using commercial enzymatic tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of participants was 73.7 (65-92), and 55.6% were women. After adjusting for potential confounders (sociodemographic factors, smoking, physical activity, body composition, and clinical conditions including cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease, inflammatory markers, and serum testosterone) HDL-C levels were significantly associated with knee extension torque in men and women and with 4-m and 400-m walking speed in men. Men in the highest tertile of the HDL-C distribution (>55 mg/dL) had, on average, a three times greater probability of belonging to the best tertile of all indexes of lower extremity performance, including 4-m fast walking speed (odds ratio (OR)=2.57, 95%=confidence interval (CI)=1.07-6.17), 400-m walking speed (OR=3.74, 95% CI=1.20-11.7), and knee extension torque (OR=3.63, 95%=CI 1.41-9.33). Path analysis suggested a direct relationship between HDL-C and knee extension torque.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In older nondisabled persons, HDL-C levels are highly correlated with knee extension torque and walking speed. Further research should focus on the biological mechanism of this association.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy. vlt@unife.it
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Volpato
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ble
authors.forename: E Jeffrey
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Metter
authors.forename: Fulvio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lauretani
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bandinelli
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zuliani
authors.forename: Renato
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fellin
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ferrucci
authors.forename: Jack M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Guralnik
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood*; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D007866:Leg / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009017:Morbidity; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL