Cholesterol-Overloaded HDL Particles Are Independently Associated With Progression of Carotid Atherosclerosis in a Cardiovascular Disease-Free Population

• Published in: Journal of the American College of Cardiology 2015-02, Vol.65 (4), p.355-363
• Main Authors: Qi, Yue, MD, PhD, Fan, Jie, MD, Liu, Jing, MD, PhD, Wang, Wei, MD, Wang, Miao, MD, Sun, Jiayi, MD, Liu, Jun, MD, Xie, Wuxiang, PhD, Zhao, Fan, PhD, Li, Yan, MD, Zhao, Dong, MD, PhD
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Atoms & subatomic particles; Cardiology; Cardiovascular; carotid atherosclerosis; Cholesterol; cholesterol-overloaded high-density lipoprotein particle; high-density lipoprotein cholesterol; Internal Medicine; NMR; Nuclear magnetic resonance; Studies
• ISSN: 0735-1097; 1558-3597
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jacc.2014.11.019

Abstract Background Cholesterol-overloaded high-density lipoprotein (HDL) particles exert a negative impact on the antiatherogenic function of HDL in experimental studies. However, it remains unclear whether cholesterol-overloaded HDL particle is involved in the development of atherosclerosis in humans. Objectives The objective of this study was to explore whether cholesterol-overloaded HDL particles are associated with the progression of carotid atherosclerosis in a cardiovascular disease–free population. Methods Baseline HDL particle number was measured using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy in 930 participants ages 45 to 74 years in a community-based cohort study. An estimate of cholesterol molecules per HDL particle (HDL-C/P ratio) was calculated as the ratio of HDL cholesterol to HDL particles. HDL-C/P ratio was categorized as