title: Gender-specific relationships between plasma oxidized low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, total antioxidant capacity, and central adiposity indicators.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Oxidative stress has a pivotal role in the onset of obesity-related chronic diseases. This study assessed potential gender differences in the associations of adiposity (total vs. central) with oxidative stress markers in healthy young adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study enrolled 272 subjects (97 males, 175 females; 22 ± 3 years, body mass index 22.0 ± 2.8 kg/m(2)). Body composition, cardiometabolic and lifestyle features, oxidized low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (ox-LDL) concentrations, plasma total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity in erythrocytes were determined by validated procedures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared to women, men had statistically higher concentrations of ox-LDL (61.7 vs. 53.5 U/l, p = 0.022). In analyses with the whole sample, those individuals included in the highest tertile of central adiposity indicators (waist circumference, WC, or waist-to-hip ratio, WHR) presented higher ox-LDL and lower TAC values (p < 0.01), while no statistical differences were found across tertiles of total body fat. WHR values were more strongly associated with ox-LDL and TAC concentrations, compared to other adiposity indicators, with higher slopes for women. Sex differences in ox-LDL concentrations were abolished (p > 0.05) after individual pairing of men and women for WC (53.8 vs. 61.6 U/l, p = 0.225) or WHR (56.1 vs. 56.3 U/l, p = 0.471). No differences were found in GPx values concerning gender or adiposity indicators.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Plasma ox-LDL and TAC values were more strongly influenced by central adiposity indicators (WHR and WC) in women than in men, suggesting that the change of the gynoid to android pattern phenotype among young women could lead to a steeper unfavourable redox status compared to men.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Health, Federal University of Viçosa, Viçosa, Brazil.
authors.forename: Helen Hermana M
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Hermsdorff
authors.affiliation: Nutrition Center, Federal University of Sergipe, Aracaju, Brazil.
authors.forename: Kiriaque B F
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Barbosa
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Social Nutrition, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Carolina P
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Volp
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, Food Science, Physiology and Toxicology, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.
authors.forename: Blanca
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Puchau
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Health, Federal University of Viçosa, Viçosa, Brazil.
authors.forename: Josefina
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bressan
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, Food Science, Physiology and Toxicology, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.
authors.forename: M Ángeles
authors.initials: MÁ
authors.lastname: Zulet
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, Food Science, Physiology and Toxicology, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain jalfmtz@unav.es.
authors.forename: J Alfredo
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Martínez
mesh_terms: D050154:Adiposity / Q000502:physiology*; D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001823:Body Composition; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000378:metabolism*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology*; D012737:Sex Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D015415:Biomarkers; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; C099252:oxidized low density lipoprotein; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase