title: Decreased serum bilirubin is associated with arterial stiffness in men.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) is a marker for early atherosclerotic changes. Serum total bilirubin (TB) is an effective antioxidant and has been associated with carotid intima-media thickness, cardiovascular disease, stroke and peripheral arterial disease, all of which may be caused by arteriosclerosis. This study aimed to investigate the association of TB with arterial stiffness.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In this cross-sectional study, we investigated the relationship between TB and baPWV in 2207 participants (1331 men, 876 women) in a general health examination. Different metabolic parameters were compared across TB quartiles. Age-adjusted mean values of baPWV gradually decreased with TB quartiles in men (Q1 = 1348, Q2 = 1266, Q3 = 1215, and Q4 = 1154 cm/s). However, the age-adjusted means of baPWV had no significance in women according to TB quartiles. Univariate analysis showed that age, smoking status, BMI, SBP, DBP, AST, ALT, GGT, TB, TG, and HDL-C were significantly associated with baPWV in men, whereas only age, BMI, SBP, DBP, TG and FPG were significantly associated with baPWV in women. In addition, BMI, SBP, TB, age, TG, and AST were significant factors in the multivariate model with baPWV in men; only BMI and FPG were significant factors with baPWV in women.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings show that serum total bilirubin concentration is negatively correlated to arterial stiffness in Chinese men. Early detection of abnormal bilirubin levels could potentially serve as an early biomarker for arterial stiffness.
authors: Department of Geriatrics, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, NO.246 Xuefu ST, Nangang District, Harbin 150086, Heilongjiang, China.
authors: Y
authors: Y
authors: Li
authors: S-y
authors: SY
authors: Meng
authors: C-c
authors: CC
authors: Meng
authors: W-g
authors: WG
authors: Yu
authors: R-t
authors: RT
authors: Wang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D055109:Ankle Brachial Index; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002681:China; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015536:Down-Regulation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D063177:Pulse Wave Analysis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D059289:Vascular Stiffness
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D001663:Bilirubin