Remnant lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride reference ranges from the Framingham Heart Study

Abstract

Remnants of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins of both intestinal and liver origin are considered atherogenic, but they have been difficult to isolate and measure. An assay has been developed that allows the measurement of remnant-like particle cholesterol (RLP-C) and triglyceride (RLP-TG). RLP-C and RLP-TG concentrations were measured in >3000 fasting plasma samples obtained from participants in exam cycle 4 of the Framingham Offspring Study and stored at −80 °C. After exclusions, comparisons were made for 2821 samples (1385 women, 1436 men; mean age, 52 years). For women, the mean RLP-C and RLP-TG values were 0.176 ± 0.058 mmol/L (6.8 ± 2.3 mg/dL) and 0.204 ± 0.159 mmol/L (18.1 ± 14.1 mg/dL), respectively; for men, the mean values were 0.208 ± 0.096 mmol/L (8.0 ± 3.7 mg/dL) and 0.301 ± 0.261 mmol/L (26.7 ± 23.1 mg/dL), respectively. Women had significantly lower RLP-C and RLP-TG values (P <0.0001) than men; premenopausal women had significantly lower values than postmenopausal women (P <0.0001); and younger subjects (<50 years) had significantly lower values than older individuals (P <0.0001). The 75th percentile values for RLP-C and RLP-TG were 0.186 mmol/L (7.2 mg/dL) and 0.225 mmol/L (19.9 mg/dL), respectively, for women, and 0.225 mmol/L (8.7 mg/dL) and 0.346 mmol/L (30.6 mg/dL) for men. These data provide reference ranges for use in the evaluation of RLP-C and RLP-TG as potential indicators of risk for coronary heart disease.

Effects of treatment with Sandostatin®LAR®on small dense LDL and remnant‐like lipoproteins in patients with acromegaly

“…They postulated that the increase in fasting RLP-C was related to insulin resistance and increased plasma triglyceride levels, whereas the increase in postprandial RLP-C could additionally be caused by lowered LPL activity in acromegaly. The levels of baseline RLP-C in our acromegalic patients are within the normal range found in normolipidaemic healthy Caucasian subjects (McNamara et al, 1998). However, recent data suggest that RLP-C levels in the high normal range may already have harmful effects.…”

Treatment with hormone replacement therapy lowers remnant lipoprotein particles in healthy postmenopausal women: results from a randomized trial

“…atherogenic lipid profile in general and lower RLP-C levels in particular [mean RLP-C levels at baseline: 0·13 mmol L −1 (0·02); our study: 0·23 mmol L −1 (0·06)]. However, the RLP-C levels in our study were similar to those of women in the Framingham Heart Offspring study [22]. Several mechanisms are postulated to explain the effect of hormone replacement regimes on RLP particles.…”

Impact of nonfasting triglycerides/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio on secondary prevention in patients treated with statins

“…It has been demonstrated that insulin resistance or hypertriglyceridemia can increase small-dense LDL and remnant lipoproteins [29,30]. Some research has shown that high smalldense LDL or high remnant lipoprotein can induce arteriosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases [31,32].…”