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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Boston, Massachusetts » Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #254400
Title: Alterations in cholesterol absorption and synthesis characterize Framingham offspring study participants with coronary heart disease

Author
item MATTHAN, NIRUPA - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University
item PENCINA, MICHAEL - Boston University
item LAROCQUE, JANE - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University
item D'AGOSTINO, RALPH - Boston University
item JACQUES, PAUL - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University
item ORDOVAS, JOSE - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University
item SCHAEFER, ERNST - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University
item LICHTENSTEIN, ALICE - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University

Submitted to: Journal of Lipid Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/1/2009
Publication Date: 9/1/2009
Citation: Matthan, N., Pencina, M., Larocque, J., D'Agostino, R.B., Jacques, P.F., Ordovas, J.M., Schaefer, E.J., Lichtenstein, A.H. 2009. Alterations in cholesterol absorption and synthesis characterize Framingham offspring study participants with coronary heart disease. Journal of Lipid Research. 50:1927-1935.

Interpretive Summary: Data is limited on factors influencing cholesterol homeostasis, (balance between cholesterol absorbed and synthesized in the body) in subjects at high risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) relative to established risk factors. To address this, we measured the concentration of certain compounds in the blood that have been validated as surrogate measures of cholesterol absorption and synthesis respectively. The study population included a subset of subjects enrolled in the Framingham Offspring Study, specifically 155 cases and 414 matched control subjects. Cases and controls had similar plasma LDL-cholesterol; HDL-cholesterol was significantly lower in males, while triglyceride concentrations were significantly higher in female cases relative to their respective controls. Cholesterol absorption markers were signifiantly higher whereas cholesterol synthesis markers were significantly lower in cases compared with controls, irrespective of sex. These data suggest that impaired cholesterol homeostasis, reflected by lower synthesis and higher absorption marker concentrations, are highly significant independent predictors of prevalent CVD in this study population.

Technical Abstract: Data is limited on measures influencing cholesterol homeostasis in subjects at high risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) relative to established risk factors. To address this, we quantified circulating indicators of cholesterol homeostasis (plasma phytosterols and cholesterol precursor concentrations as surrogate measures of cholesterol absorption and synthesis, respectively) in Framingham Offspring Study Cycle-6 participants diagnosed with established CVD and/or >or=50% carotid stenosis not taking lipid lowering medication (cases, N = 155) and matched controls (N = 414). Cases and controls had similar plasma LDL-cholesterol; HDL-cholesterol was significantly lower in males, while triglyceride concentrations were significantly higher in female cases relative to their respective controls. Cholesterol absorption markers were significantly higher (229 +/- 7 vs. 196 +/- 4, 169 +/- 6 vs. 149 +/- 3 and 144 +/- 5 vs. 135 +/- 3 for campesterol, sitosterol, and cholestanol, respectively), whereas cholesterol synthesis markers were significantly lower (116 +/- 4 vs. 138 +/- 3, 73 +/- 3 vs. 75 +/- 2 for lathosterol and desmosterol, respectively) in cases compared with controls, irrespective of sex. After controlling for standard risk factors, campesterol (2.47 [1.71-3.56]; P < 0.0001), sitosterol (1.86 [1.38-2.50]; P < 0.0001), cholestanol (1.57 [1.09-2.27]; P = 0.02), desmosterol (0.59 [0.42-0.84]; P = 0.003), and lathosterol (0.58 [0.43-0.77]; P = 0.0002) were significantly associated with CVD (odds ratio [95% confidence interval]). These data suggest that impaired cholesterol homeostasis, reflected by lower synthesis and higher absorption marker concentrations, are highly significant independent predictors of prevalent CVD in this study population.