Atherogenic lipid phenotype in a general group of subjects.

Context: The atherogenic lipid phenotype is a major cardiovascular risk factor, but normal values do not exist derived from 1 analysis in a general study group.

Objective: To determine normal values of all of the atherogenic lipid phenotype parameters using subjects from a general study group.

Design: One hundred two general subjects were used to determine their atherogenic lipid phenotype using polyacrylamide gradient gels.

Results: Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) size revealed 24% of subjects express LDL phenotype B, defined as average LDL peak particle size 258 A or less; however, among the Chinese subjects, the expression of the B phenotype was higher at 44% (P = .02). For the total group, mean LDL size was 265 +/- 11 A (1 SD); however, histograms were bimodal in both men and women. After excluding subjects expressing LDL phenotype B, because they are at increased cardiovascular risk and thus are not completely healthy, LDL histograms were unimodal and the mean LDL size was 270 +/- 7 A. A small, dense LDL concentration histogram (total group) revealed skewing; thus, phenotype B subjects were excluded, for the rationale described previously, and the mean value was 13 +/- 9 mg/dL (0.33 +/- 0.23 mmol/L). High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol histograms were bimodal in both sexes. After removing subjects as described previously or if HDL cholesterol levels were less than 45 mg/dL, histograms were unimodal and revealed a mean HDL cholesterol value of 61 +/- 12 mg/dL (1.56 +/- 0.31 mmol/L). HDL 2, HDL 2a, and HDL 2b were similarly evaluated.

Conclusions: Approximate normal values for the atherogenic lipid phenotype, similar to those derived from cardiovascular endpoint trials, can be determined if those high proportions of subjects with dyslipidemic cardiovascular risk are excluded.