title: Apolipoprotein A-I, apolipoprotein B, and apolipoprotein B/apolipoprotein A-I ratio: reference intervals compared with values in different pathophysiological conditions from the FINRISK 2007 study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In addition to traditional measurements of serum lipid levels, apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I), apolipoprotein B (apoB), and apoB/apoA-I ratio may add more value to risk assessment guidelines for cardiovascular disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  We calculated reference intervals for apoA-I, apoB, and apoB/apoA-I ratio using a reference sample (n=2828) from the FINRISK 2007 study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The reference intervals for apoA-I were 1.1-2.0 g/l for men and 1.2-2.3 g/l for women. The corresponding reference intervals for apoB were 0.6-1.5 g/l and 0.6-1.3 g/l. The reference intervals for apoB/apoA-I ratio were 0.3-1.0 for men and 0.3-0.8 for women. Compared with the healthy reference group, obese men had the lowest ApoA-I, the highest apoB, and the highest apoB/apoA-I ratio. Men with CVD and cholesterol-lowering medication, or diabetes had lower apoB levels and apoB/apoA-1 ratio than the reference group but the opposite was true for women. The therapeutic goal for low-risk individuals for apoB was 0.9 g/l coinciding with LDL-C concentration of 3.0 mmol/l.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Reference intervals for apoA-I, apoB, and the apoB/apoA-I ratio and their cutoff values may be useful for the risk evaluation and follow-up of treatment among individuals having CVD or other metabolic disorders.
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Health and Welfare, Department of Chronic Disease Prevention, Disease Risk Unit, Helsinki, Finland. jaana.leiviska@thl.fi
authors.forename: Jaana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Leiviskä
authors.forename: Jouko
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sundvall
authors.forename: Georg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Alfthan
authors.forename: Matti
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jauhiainen
authors.forename: Veikko
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Salomaa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I / Q000097:blood*; D001055:Apolipoproteins B / Q000097:blood*; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis / Q000592:standards*; D004194:Disease; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values; D018570:Risk Assessment
chemical_list: D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I; D001055:Apolipoproteins B