title: Plasma Levels of Acylation-Stimulating Protein Are Strongly Predicted by Waist/Hip Ratio and Correlate with Decreased LDL Size in Men.
abstract: The association of abdominal obesity with cardiovascular risk is often linked to altered secretion of adipose-derived factors and an abnormal lipid profile including formation of atherogenic small dense low density lipoprotein particles (sdLDL). Acylation-stimulating protein (ASP) is an adipose-derived hormone that exhibits potent lipogenic effects. Plasma ASP levels increase in obesity; however, the association of ASP levels with body fat distribution is not yet established, and no study to date has investigated the association of ASP with LDL size. In this study, we examined the association of ASP levels with abdominal obesity measures and the lipid profile including LDL size in 83 men with a wide range of abdominal girths. Regression analysis showed that waist/hip ratio was the main predictor of ASP levels ( β = 0.52, P < 0.0001), significantly followed by decreased LDL size. BMI and TG levels, although positively correlated with ASP levels, were excluded as significant predictors in regression analysis. No correlation was found with LDL-C or apoB levels. ASP levels were 62.5% higher in abdominally obese compared to nonobese men. Waist/hip ratio presenting as the main predictor of ASP levels, suggests increased ASP production by abdominal fat which, as proposed previously, may result from resistance to ASP function causing delayed TG clearance and subsequent formation of atherogenic sdLDL.
authors.affiliation: Biochemistry Department, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, P.O. Box 35, Muscat, Oman.
authors.forename: Jumana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Saleh
authors.affiliation: Integrated Sciences Division, College of Health Sciences, University of Bahrain, P.O. Box 32038, Manama, Bahrain.
authors.forename: Rabab A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Wahab
authors.affiliation: College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, P.O. Box 35, Muscat, Oman.
authors.forename: Hatem
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Farhan
authors.affiliation: College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, P.O. Box 35, Muscat, Oman.
authors.forename: Issa
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Al-Amri
authors.affiliation: Centre de Recherche Hôpital Laval, Université Laval, Y2186, 2725 Chemin Ste-Foy, Québec, QC, Canada G1V 4G5.
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Cianflone