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Association of the apolipoprotein B/apolipoprotein A-I ratio and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol with insulin resistance in a Chinese population with abdominal obesity

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Abstract

The aim of this study is to assess the relationships among the apolipoprotein B/apolipoprotein A-I ratio (apoB/apoA-I ratio), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and insulin resistance (IR) in a Chinese population with abdominal obesity. This is a population-based, cross-sectional study of 3,945 men and 2,141 women with abdominal obesity. Individuals were referred to a primary health service and recruited for analysis. IR was measured using a homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA2-IR) with a HOMA2 calculator. Metabolic syndrome (MetS) was diagnosed using International Diabetes Federation (IDF) criteria. Comparing the apoB/apoA-I ratio and lipid indices using the HOMA2-IR showed that the ratio, LDL-C, total cholesterol level (TC) and triglyceride level (TG) were higher; and the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level (HDL-C) was lower in the fourth than in the first quartile in both sexes (p ≤ 0.001). After adjustment for age, HOMA2-IR was positively correlated with the apoB/apoA-I ratio, LDL-C, TC and TG; and negatively correlated with HDL-C in men (all p < 0.0001). HOMA2-IR was also positively correlated with the apoB/apoA-I ratio, LDL-C, TC and TG; and negatively correlated with HDL-C in women (all p < 0.01). After adjustment for age and LDL-C, HOMA2-IR was found to be correlated with the apoB/apoA-I ratio in both men and women (r = 0.066 and 0.116, p < 0.0001). After adjustment for age and the apoB/apoA-I ratio, HOMA2-IR was correlated with LDL-C in men and women (r = 0.063 and 0.044, p < 0.0001 and p = 0.0431, respectively). Gender, age, LDL-C, BMI, HOMA2-IR and apoB/apoA-I were the covariates independently associated with presence of the MetS (Odds ratio, OR: 2.183, 1.034, 1.013, 1.157, 1.726 and 1.570, respectively; all p < 0.05). In conclusion, the study showed that the apoB/apoA-I ratio and LDL-C were positively correlated with IR. Excluding reciprocal interactions, the apoB/apoA-I ratio and LDL-C were still significantly correlated with IR, but the apoB/apoA-I ratio showed a greater correlation with IR than LDL-C in women with abdominal obesity, compared with men with abdominal obesity. Both LDL-C and apoB/apoA-I were independent risk factors of MetS, and the apoB/apoA-I ratio was stronger in this regard than LDL-C for this obese population.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. International Health Care Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, No.78, Jiefang Road, Hangzhou City, 310009, Zhejiang Province, China

    Xin Ying, Yafang Qian, Zhenyan Jiang, Zhenya Song & Changjun Zhao

  2. Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310009, China

    Yan Jiang

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  1. Xin Ying
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  2. Yafang Qian
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  3. Yan Jiang
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  4. Zhenyan Jiang
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Correspondence to Zhenya Song.

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Communicated by Massimo Federici.

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Ying, X., Qian, Y., Jiang, Y. et al. Association of the apolipoprotein B/apolipoprotein A-I ratio and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol with insulin resistance in a Chinese population with abdominal obesity. Acta Diabetol 49, 465–472 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00592-012-0419-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00592-012-0419-9

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