Search

Background and Aims: Atherogenic dyslipidemia is common in type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and predicts cardiovascular disease, but information on the association of its components with atherosclerosis is scarce. We aimed to assess differences in the lipoprotein profile in newly-diagnosed T2DM and matched control individuals and their associations with preclinical carotid atherosclerosis. Methods: In a case-control study, we evaluated lipoprotein profiles by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and determined carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and plaque presence (IMT >= 1.5 mm) by B-mode ultrasonography. Results: We assessed 96 T2DM patients (median age 63 years, 44% women, 19% smokers, 54% hypertension, 38% dyslipidemia) and 90 non-diabetic controls matched for age, sex, and cardiovascular risk factors. In T2DM VLDL-particles (mainly large and enriched in cholesterol and triglycerides) were increased, and large HDL-particles (enriched in triglycerides and depleted in cholesterol) were reduced (p < 0.05; all comparisons). Regarding associations with preclinical atherosclerosis, VLDL triglyceride content (odds ratio [OR], 8.975; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.330-34.576), total number of VLDL particles (OR, 2.713; CI, 1.601-4.598) and VLDL size (OR, 2.044; CI, 1.320-3.166), and the ratio cholesterol/triglycerides in HDL (OR, 0.638; CI, 0.477-0.852) were associated with plaque burden (>= 3 plaques) independently of confounders, including conventional lipid levels. Conclusion: NMR-assessed advanced lipoprotein profile identifies lipid abnormalities associated with newly-diagnosed T2DM and preclinical atherosclerosis that are not captured by the traditional lipid profile. At this early stage of diabetes, NMR lipoproteins could be useful to identify candidates for a more comprehensive cardiovascular risk prevention strategy. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Objective: Chronic low-grade inflammation is associated with atherosclerosis. Ultrasound imaging allows measurement of intima-media thickness (IMT) and plaque. We investigated the association between inflammatory markers and carotid and femoral atherosclerosis. Methods: We studied 554 subjects with primary dyslipidemia (57% men, median age 49 years) and 246 age-and sex-matched normolipidemic subjects. Carotid and femoral arteries were imaged bilaterally with a standardized protocol. Mean and maximum common carotid IMT (CC-IMT and MaxCC-IMT) and common femoral IMT (F-IMT and MaxF-IMT), and carotid and femoral plaque were assessed. Carotid atherosclerosis was defined by CC-IMT and/or plaque height >75th percentile of a reference population. White blood cell count (WBCC) was measured in all subjects. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP) was measured in 330 dyslipidemic subjects. Results: The age-and sex-adjusted probability of carotid atherosclerosis and femoral plaque increased by 20% (odds ratio [OR] 1.20; 95% CI, 1.10-1.31) and 25% (1.25; 1.13-1.38), respectively, for each 1000/mm(3) WBCC increment. WBCC was associated with age-and sex-adjusted CC-IMT and MaxCC-IMT (p

Objective α-Linolenic acid (ALA), the vegetable n-3 fatty acid, appears to have antiatherosclerotic properties akin to those of marine n-3 fatty acids. A prior study in a US population with low fish intake showed an inverse association between ALA intake and carotid plaque. We examined the association between the ALA status and advanced carotid and femoral atherosclerosis in subjects at high cardiovascular disease risk from Spain, a country with low coronary heart disease (CHD) rates and high fish consumption. Methods Cross-sectional study of 211 patients with primary dyslipidemia, with determination of fatty acid composition of serum phosphatidylcholine by gas chromatography and plaque outcomes (frequency, number, maximum height and sum of plaque heights) in carotid and femoral arteries by sonography. Results In multivariate regression analyses after adjusting for age, gender, lipid genotype, BMI, smoking, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, APOE4 genotype, prior statin treatment, and serum proportions of other unsaturated fatty acids known to relate to atherosclerosis, the proportion of ALA showed an inverse association with the risk of carotid plaque (OR [95% CI] 0.66 [0.44–0.91]) and concomitant carotid and femoral artery plaque (0.57 [0.38–0.86]). Conclusion The inverse relationship between ALA in serum phosphatidylcholine and plaque burden in carotid and femoral arteries supports its antiatherosclerotic effect independently of fish-derived n-3 fatty acids. However, whether ALA enrichment in phospholipids is beneficial per se or is a surrogate of the consumption of bioactive compounds in parent foods deserves further research.