title: Plasma oxidized low-density lipoprotein levels and arterial stiffness in older adults: the health, aging, and body composition study.
abstract: Arterial stiffness is a prominent feature of vascular aging and is strongly related to cardiovascular disease. Oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL), a key player in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, may also play a role in arterial stiffening, but this relationship has not been well studied. Thus, we examined the cross-sectional association between ox-LDL and aortic pulse wave velocity (aPWV), a marker of arterial stiffness, in community-dwelling older adults. Plasma ox-LDL levels and aPWV were measured in 2295 participants (mean age: 74 years; 52% female; 40% black) from the Health, Aging, and Body Composition Study. Mean aPWV significantly increased across tertiles of ox-LDL (tertile 1: 869+/-376 cm/s; tertile 2: 901+/-394 cm/s; tertile 3: 938+/-415 cm/s; P=0.002). In multivariate analyses, ox-LDL remained associated with aPWV after adjustment for demographics and traditional cardiovascular disease risk factors (P=0.008). After further adjustment for hemoglobin A1c, abdominal visceral fat, antihypertensive and antilipemic medications, and C-reactive protein, the association with ox-LDL was attenuated but remained significant (P=0.01). Results were similar when ox-LDL was expressed in absolute (milligrams per deciliter) or relative amounts (percentage of low-density lipoprotein). Moreover, individuals in the highest ox-LDL tertile were 30% to 55% more likely to have high arterial stiffness, defined as aPWV >75th percentile (P<or=0.02). In conclusion, we found that, among elderly persons, elevated plasma ox-LDL levels were associated with higher arterial stiffness, independent of cardiovascular disease risk factors. These data suggest that ox-LDL may be related to the pathogenesis of arterial stiffness.
authors.affiliation: Sticht Center on Aging, Department of Internal Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Medical Center Blvd, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA. tbrinkle@wfubmc.edu
authors.forename: Tina E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Brinkley
authors.forename: Barbara J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Nicklas
authors.forename: Alka M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Kanaya
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Satterfield
authors.forename: Edward G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Lakatta
authors.forename: Eleanor M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Simonsick
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sutton-Tyrrell
authors.forename: Stephen B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Kritchevsky