Reference values of apoproteins B-100, A-I, A-II and E for premenopausal Argentine women

There is an epidemiological relationship between apolipoprotein profile and cardiovascular risk. Few studies on this issue have been performed in women, and even less in premenopausal state. We proposed to determine reference values of the apolipoproteins B-100, A-I, A-II and E in healthy premenopausal women, and correlate them with the following lipid values: total HDL-cholesterol (Total HDL-C) HDL2-C, HDL3-C, LDL-C and VLDL-triglycerides (VLDL-TG). We studied 129 healthy premenopausal women with a normal lipoprotein profile, aged between 37 to 50. Apolipoprotein concentrations obtained were (mean +/- SD, g/L): apo B-100, 1.17 +/- 0,21; apo A-I, 1.34 +/- 0.24; apo A-II, 0.33 +/- 0.07; and apo E, 0.065 +/- 0.017. Cholesterol concentrations obtained for the different particles were (mean +/- SD, mg/dl: Total HDL-C, 54.0 +/- 13.1; HDL2-C, 13.6 +/- 8.6; HDL3-C, 39.3 +/- 7.92 and LDL-C, 116.0 +/- 26.0. This study shows reference values for apo B-100, apo A-I, apo A-II and apo E plasma concentrations in premenopausal women, for the first time in Argentina. The following correlations were calculated: apo B-100 vs LDL-C (0.54, n.s.) apo A-I vs Total HDL-C (0.61 < 0.01), apo A-I vs HDL2-C (0.32, p < 0.01), apo A-I vs HDL3-C (0.52, p < 0.01), apo A-II vs Total HDL-C (0.28, p < 0.01), apo A-II vs HDL2-C (n.s.), and apo A-II vs HDL3-C (0.35, p < 0.01). Correlation between apo E and VLDL-TG was significant (0.25, p < 0.025). Breslow's index, which evaluates the HDL size through the HDL-C/apo A-I + Apo A-II molar ratio was 21.06 +/- 4.08. This value is in agreement with the data found by other authors, and suggests that HDL particles size in premenopausal state is not modified.