The Levels of Lipids, Lipoproteins and Apolipoproteins in Healthy People in the Central Region of the Black Sea

Abstract

Lipids, lipoproteins and apolipoproteins are among the risk factors for the most serious health problem of the age - coronary artery disease (CAD). They vary from country to country, from area to area within a country, depending on genetic, environmental, dietary and many other factors. Our aim was to determine the levels of lipids, lipoproteins and apolipoproteins in healthy people in the central Black Sea region of Turkey. Subjects included 1348 volunteers (682 women, 666 men) referred to the Medical Faculty hospital from the study area. The population consisted of healthy people or those whose disease was not affecting the metabolism of lipids. Cholesterol, triglyceride and HDL-cholesterol levels in the obtained serum samples were measured spectrophotometrically, while apolipoprotein A-I, apolipoprotein B, apolipoprotein E and lipoprotein(a) levels were measured nephelometrically. The levels of lipid parameters were as follows: total cholesterol for men was 4.22 ± 1.00 mmol/l (mean arithmetic ± SD), triglyceride 1.20 mmol/l (0.30-4.44) [geometric mean (range)], HDL-cholesterol 0.88 ± 0.22 mmol/l, LDL-cholesterol 2.69 ± 0.85 mmol/l, apolipoprotein A-I 1.26 ± 0.22 mmol/l apolipoprotein B 1.12 ± 0.32 mmol/l, apolipoprotein E 0.037 ± 0.012 mmol/l and lipoprotein(a) 0.25 g/l (0.03-2.75); total cholesterol for women was 4.53 ± 1.00 mmol/l, triglyceride 1.05 mmol/l (0.28-4.50), HDL-cholesterol 1.08 ± 0.26 mmol/l, LDL-cholesterol 2.87 ± 0.88 mmol/l, apolipoprotein A-I 1.45 ± 0.25 mmol/l apolipoprotein B 1.11 ± 0.31 mmol/l, apolipoprotein E 0.039 ± 0.011 mmol/l and lipoprotein(a) 0.22 g/l (0.03-2.16). In conclusion, our study in four different regions in Turkey reflected that the people living in the central Black Sea region are less vulnerable to the risk of CAD, although at a relatively higher risk compared to some other countries.