Relationship between postprandial lipemia and atherogenic factors in healthy subjects by considering gender differences.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Postprandial triglyceride concentrations are clinically significant and independent predictor of cardiovascular disease risk. The purpose of this study was to determine postprandial TG ranges in healthy subjects by considering gender differences. Secondly, assess the relationship between postprandial lipemia and atherogenic indicators. Finally, investigate the use of the postprandial 4h TG test instead of the area under the curve (AUC). METHODS: Postprandial lipemia was investigated using the standardized oral fat tolerance test (OFTT) in 96 healthy subjects (45 female/51 male). Study group was categorized into tertiles based on AUC calculated using TG concentrations at fasting and 2, 4 and 6h after OFTT. Lipid, lipoproteins, apolipoproteins, LDL subfractions and oxidized LDL (oxLDL) were evaluated in tertiles in both sex groups. RESULTS: The cut-off concentrations for postprandial 4-hour TG concentrations in female and male were 3.20 mmol/L and 4.59 mmol/L, respectively. We observed higher concentrations for atherogenic indicates like small dense-low density lipoprotein (sdLDL), oxLDL values in top tertiles for both groups (P < 0.05). Cohen's kappa coefficients for the agreement of AUC and 4h postprandial TG tests were 0.935, 0.970, 0.469 (P = 0.0001) in female, male and total study group, respectively. CONCLUSION: Due to predominant effects of gender differences on postprandial lipemia, postprandial TG cut-off values for female and male subjects should be determined separately. Postprandial lipemia may be associated with atherogenic tendency by changing lipids, lipoproteins, sdLDL and oxLDL concentrations, especially in males. Four-hour postprandial TG concentrations emerged as a useful and reliable marker for evaluation of postprandial lipemia.