부산대학교 도서관

Aim: Endothelial dysfunction is an initial step in the progression of atherosclerosis. Precise measurements of lipoprotein subclass distribution by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) have been established. Here, we investigated the potential associations between lipoprotein subclass cholesterol concentrations and endothelial dysfunction evaluated by digital reactive hyperemia peripheral arterial tonometry (PAT).Methods: We recruited 120 apparently healthy Japanese men. Endothelial function was assessed by digital reactive hyperemia PAT, expressed as the logarithmic-scaled reactive hyperemia index (RHI). Plasma cholesterol concentrations in lipoproteins and their subclasses were determined by HPLC with gel permeation columns.Results: RHI was inversely correlated with age (r=−0.258, p=0.004), followed by LDL cholesterol (r=−0.236, p=0.010) and small LDL cholesterol (r=−0.223, p=0.014). In addition, RHI was significantly inversely associated with heart rate, hemoglobin A1c, total cholesterol, medium LDL cholesterol, apolipoprotein B100, and non-HDL cholesterol. In stepwise multiple regression analysis, age (β=−0.266, p=0.024), small LDL cholesterol (β=−0.213, p=0.015), and heart rate (β=−0.183, p=0.036) were found to be independent determinants of RHI (adjusted R2 =0.132, p<0.001).Conclusions: Small LDL cholesterol concentration was an important, independent determinant of endothelial dysfunction in men.