title: A higher burden of small low-density lipoprotein particles is associated with profound changes in the free androgen index in male adolescents.
abstract: From a young age, males are at higher cardiovascular risk than females. Dyslipidemia, including a higher burden related to small low-density lipoproteins (LDL), plays an important role in precipitating atherosclerosis in both males and females. We investigated sex differences in atherogenic lipoprotein burden and the independent predictors of LDL particle size in children and adolescents. We measured the concentrations of total testosterone, sex hormone-binding globulin, estradiol, total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and LDL particle size in 135 children and adolescents (67 boys, 68 girls). The free androgen index was significantly and negatively correlated with LDL particle size (r = -0.273, P = 0.026) in boys, but estrogen and LDL particle size were not related. In a stepwise multiple regression analysis adjusted for body mass index, age, and homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance, free androgen index was still an independent predictor of LDL particle size in boys (R(2) = 0.075, P = 0.026). The prominent decrease in LDL particle size along with increased testosterone concentrations in males might explain why they are more likely to display atherogenic dyslipidemia from adolescence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Ajou University School of Medicine, 164 Worldcup-ro, Yeongtong-gu, Suwon, Korea.
authors.forename: Yong Jun
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Sung Hee
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Hae Jin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Seung Jin
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Jin Soon
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Yoon-Sok
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Kwan Woo
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hong Keun
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Dae Jung
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood; D015992:Body Mass Index; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D010316:Particle Size; D011627:Puberty / Q000097:blood; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012306:Risk; D012737:Sex Factors; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000032:analysis; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood*; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; D014280:Triglycerides; D013739:Testosterone; D004958:Estradiol