High fasting insulin concentrations appear to be an independent predictor of ischemic heart disease in men.

These results represent the first prospective evidence suggesting that the presence of small, dense LDL particles may be associated with an increased risk of subsequently developing IHD in men. Results also suggest that the risk attributed to small LDL particles may be partly independent of the concomitant variation in plasma lipoprotein-lipid concentrations.

Background-The present study tested the hypothesis that simple variables, such as waist circumference and fasting plasma triglyceride (TG) concentrations, could be used as screening tools for the identification of men characterized by a metabolic triad of nontraditional risk factors (elevated insulin and apolipoprotein [apo] B and small, dense LDL particles). Methods and Results-Results of the metabolic study (study 1) conducted on 185 healthy men indicate that a large proportion (Ͼ80%) of men with waist circumference values Ն90 cm and with elevated TG levels (Ն2.0 mmol/L) were characterized by the atherogenic metabolic triad. Validation of the model in an angiographic study (study 2) on a sample of 287 men with and without coronary artery disease (CAD) revealed that only men with both elevated waist and TG levels were at increased risk of CAD (odds ratio of 3.6, PϽ0.03) compared with men with low waist and TG levels. Conclusions-It is suggested that the simultaneous measurement and interpretation of waist circumference and fasting TG could be used as inexpensive screening tools to identify men characterized by the atherogenic metabolic triad (hyperinsulinemia, elevated apo B, small, dense LDL) and at high risk for CAD. (Circulation. 2000;102:179-184.)

T he prevalence of obesity in the United States and the world has risen to epidemic/pandemic proportions. This increase has occurred despite great efforts by healthcare providers and consumers alike to improve the health-related behaviors of the population and a tremendous push from the scientific community to better understand the pathophysiology of obesity. This epidemic is all the more concerning given the clear association between excess adiposity and adverse health consequences such as cardiovascular disease (CVD) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The risks associated with overweight/obesity are primarily related to the deposition of adipose tissue, which leads to excess adiposity or body fatness. Furthermore, weight loss, specifically loss of body fat, is associated with improvement in obesity-related comorbidities. Before weight loss interventions can be recommended, however, patients must be assessed for their adiposity-related risk. Unfortunately, healthcare providers and systems have not done a good job of assessing for excess adiposity even in its simplest form, such as measuring body mass index (BMI). It is for these reasons that we must emphasize the importance of assessing adiposity in clinical practices. Although it can be argued that the entire population should be targeted as an important public health issue with a goal of prevention of weight gain and obesity, there are currently so many "at risk" individuals that simple strategies to identify and treat those individuals are necessary. We must identify those individuals at highest risk of comorbidities in order to identify those who might benefit the most from aggressive weight management.This scientific statement will first briefly review the epidemiology of obesity and its related comorbidities, supporting the need for improved assessment of adiposity in daily clinical practice. This will be followed by a discussion of some of the challenges and issues associated with assessing adiposity and then by a review of the methods available for assessing adiposity in adults. Finally, practical recommendations for the clinician in practice will be given with a goal of identifying more at-risk overweight/obese individuals.

Variation in the TC/HDL-C ratio may be associated with more substantial alterations in metabolic indices predictive of ischemic heart disease risk and related to the insulin resistance syndrome than variation in the LDL-C/HDL-C ratio.

These results indicated that estimated cholesterol levels in the large LDL subfraction were not associated with an increased risk of IHD in men and that the cardiovascular risk attributable to variations in the LDL size phenotype was largely related to markers of a preferential accumulation of small dense LDL particles.

These prospective results emphasize the importance of apo B as a risk factor for IHD. Apo B may be regarded as a relevant tool in the assessment of IHD risk in men, because it may provide information that would not be obtained from the conventional lipid-lipoprotein profile.

Context.-Epidemiological studies have established a relationship between cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) concentrations and the risk of ischemic heart disease (IHD), but up to half of patients with IHD may have cholesterol levels in the normal range. Objective.-To assess the ability to predict the risk of IHD using a cluster of nontraditional metabolic risk factors that includes elevated fasting insulin and apolipoprotein B levels as well as small, dense LDL particles. Design.-Nested case-control study. Setting.-Cases and controls were identified from the population-based cohort of the Québec Cardiovascular Study, a prospective study conducted in men free of IHD in 1985 and followed up for 5 years. Participants.-Incident IHD cases were matched with controls selected from among the sample of men who remained IHD free during follow-up. Matching variables were age, smoking habits, body mass index, and alcohol consumption. The sample included 85 complete pairs of nondiabetic IHD cases and controls. Main Outcome Measures.-Ability of fasting insulin level, apolipoprotein B level, and LDL particle diameter to predict IHD events, defined as angina, coronary insufficiency, nonfatal myocardial infarction, and coronary death. Results.-The risk of IHD was significantly increased in men who had elevated fasting plasma insulin and apolipoprotein B levels and small, dense LDL particles, compared with men who had normal levels for 2 of these 3 risk factors (odds ratio [OR], 5.9; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.3-15.4). Multivariate adjustment for LDL-C, triglycerides, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) did not attenuate the relationship between the cluster of nontraditional risk factors and IHD (OR, 5.2; 95% CI, 1.7-15.7). On the other hand, the risk of IHD in men having a combination of elevated LDL-C and triglyceride levels and reduced HDL-C levels was no longer significant (OR, 1.4; 95% CI, 0.5-3.5) after multivariate adjustment for fasting plasma insulin level, apolipoprotein B level, and LDL particle size. Conclusion.-Results from this prospective study suggest that the measurement of fasting plasma insulin level, apolipoprotein B level, and LDL particle size may provide further information on the risk of IHD compared with the information provided by conventional lipid variables.