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The association between lipid parameters and obesity in university students

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Abstract

Background

Abdominal obesity is associated with high plasma triglyceride and with low plasma high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels.

Aim and methods

Objective of the study was to find an association between plasma lipid and lipoprotein levels and anthropometric parameters in abdominal obesity in Slovakian university students. Lipid profile and anthropometric parameters of obesity were studied in a sample of 419 probands, including 137 men and 282 women.

Results

Males had higher values of non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglycerides (TG) and very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C) than females, but these differences were not significant. Females had significantly (P < 0.05) higher TC and HDL-C (P < 0.001) than males. In comparison, all anthropometric parameters in the males were significantly (P < 0.001) higher than in the females. A positive correlation between non-HDL-C, TG, VLDL-C and anthropometric parameters (BMI, WC, WHR, WHtR) was found at P < 0.001. LDL was positively correlated with BMI, WCF, WHtR and TC with BMI, WHtR at P < 0.001. We also observed a correlation between TC–WCF and LDL–WHR at P < 0.01. A negative correlation was found between HDL and all monitored anthropometric parameters at P < 0.001. On the other hand, no correlation between TC and WHR was detected.

Conclusion

This study shows an association between plasma lipid and lipoprotein levels and anthropometric parameters in abdominal obesity in young people, predominantly university students.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the grant of the European Regional Development Fund—Project FNUSA-ICRC (No. CZ.1.05/1.1.00/02.0123), the project ED2.1.00/03.0076 from European Regional Development Fund and the Charles University Research Fund (Project Number P36), and by the Agency of the Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport of the Slovak Republic for the Structural Funds of the European Union (Projects No. ITMS26220220185, No. ITMS26220220104).

Conflict of interest

Authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Pavol Jozef Safarik University, Kosice, Slovak Republic

    Z. Hertelyova, R. Salaj & A. Chmelarova

  2. Department of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, Pavol Jozef Safarik University, Kosice, Slovak Republic

    P. Dombrovsky

  3. Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University in Prague, Plzen, Czech Republic

    M. C. Dvorakova

  4. Biomedical Centre, Faculty of Medicine in Plzen, Charles University in Prague, Plzen, Czech Republic

    M. C. Dvorakova

  5. Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne’s University Hospital and Masaryk University, Pekarska 53, 656 91, Brno, Czech Republic

    P. Kruzliak

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  1. Z. Hertelyova
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  2. R. Salaj
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  3. A. Chmelarova
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  4. P. Dombrovsky
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  5. M. C. Dvorakova
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  6. P. Kruzliak
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Correspondence to P. Kruzliak.

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Hertelyova, Z., Salaj, R., Chmelarova, A. et al. The association between lipid parameters and obesity in university students. J Endocrinol Invest 39, 769–778 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40618-015-0240-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40618-015-0240-8

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