The oxidized low-density lipoprotein/β2-glycoprotein I complex is associated with abdominal obesity in healthy middle-aged men.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) in complex with β2-glycoprotein I (β2GPI) has been associated with autoimmune diseases, diabetes mellitus, chronic renal disease and coronary atherosclerosis. The aim of our study was to determine whether plasma levels of oxLDL/β2GPI complexes are associated with insulin resistance, inflammation and markers of endothelial damage in obese middle-aged men and, if so, whether oxLDL/β2GPI correlates better with insulin resistance parameters than oxLDL, advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) or thioredoxin.

METHODS

A total of 72 healthy men were recruited (41 obese and 31 nonobese individuals). Waist circumference >94 cm was used as the criterion for abdominal obesity.

RESULTS

The obese men demonstrated higher oxLDL/β2GPI levels (p < 0.001), homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (p < 0.01) and intima-media thickness of the common carotid artery (p < 0.01). oxLDL/β2GPI correlated with more insulin resistance parameters compared to AOPP, thioredoxin or oxLDL. Furthermore, oxLDL/β2GPI was associated with plasminogen activator inhibitor-I (PAI-I; r = 0.365, p < 0.001) and negatively with interleukin-8 (r = -0.297, p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

In summary, oxLDL/β2GPI reflects the criterion for abdominal obesity and markers of insulin resistance in our study. The independent positive correlation with PAI-I indicates that oxLDL/β2GPI may serve as an early marker of low-grade inflammation and atherosclerosis initiation.