Non-HDL Cholesterol as a Risk Factor of Metabolic Syndrome in Korean Women

Lee, Ki ho; Son, Jung cheon; Kim, Bum taek; Choi, Byum Hee; Hye, Jung Sun; Cha, Choong Keun; Choi, Joon young; Lee, Young jin; Ahn, Youhern

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C) include all apolipoprotein B-containing lipoproteins and potential atherogenic lipid particles. Therefore, non-HDL-C has been suggested as a risk marker for cardiovascular disease related mortality. The Metabolic Syndrome (MS) is the term used to describe a cluster of cardiovascular related risk factors. In this study, we assessed the relationship between serum non-HDL-C and MS in Korean women. METHOD: From January 2004 to July 2006, 511 women who had visited health promotion centers were evaluated. Subjects were classified into either Metabolic or non-Metabolic Syndrome groups, according to NCEP-ATP III and IDF criteria. Student T-tests were used to compare general characteristics of each group. Logistic regression analysis was applied to determine whether non-HDL-C could be used as a predictor of MS prevalence and also to compare the predictive value with other lipid profiles.
RESULTS
The prevalence of MS among the subjects was 10.76% (55/511) according to NCEP-ATP III criteria, and 8.61% (44/511) according to IDF definition. An increased risk for MS was noted when NCEP-ATP III criteria was applied with TG/HDL ratio being the the most significant predictor of MS followed by TG, Apo B/Apo A1 ratio, TC/HDL ratio, HDL-C, Apo B non-HDL-C and Apo A1. According to the IDF definition, TG, HDL-C and TG/HDL were significant predictors of MS. In contrast to women with the lowest tertile of non-HDL-C levels (< 122 mg/dL), the adjusted odds ratio of metabolic syndrome defined by NCEP-ATP III criteria was 4.005 (95%C.I: 1.151-13.939) among subjects with highest tertile (> 151 mg/dL). However, the adjusted odds ratio of non-HDL-C for MS according to the IDF definition was not statistically significant.
CONCLUSION
According to the tests conducted using both NCEP-ATP III and IDF criteria, HDL-C, TG/HDL and TG proved to be useful predictors for Metabolic Syndrome. Non-HDL-C served as an independent risk predictor of MS only when NCEP-ATP III was applied but not with IDF. The predictive value of Non-HDL-C for MS in NCEP-ATP III, however, was not much higher than other conventional markers such as HDL, TG and Apo B. Further research will certainly be required for more accurate results and definitive conclusions.