Very small low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level is a determinant of arterial stiffness in men with impaired glucose metabolism

Aim: pulse wave velocity (pwv),an estimate of arterial stiffness,is an important predictor of cardiovascular risk. the aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between lipoprotein subclasses and brachial-ankle pwv (bapwv). methods: a total of 131 apparently healthy japanese men without a history of cardiovascular disease were divided into two groups: normal glucose metabolism (n =87) and impaired glucose metabolism (n=44). cholesterol concentrations of major lipoproteins and their subclasses were determined by hplc with gel permeation columns. results: in the normal glucose metabolism group,age,systolic blood pressure,and diastolic pressure were associated with increased bapwv,and a stepwise multiple linear regression analysis revealed that age (p = 0.022) and systolic blood pressure (p< 0.001) were significantly independent determinants of bapwv. in the impaired glucose metabolism group,age (p = 0.002),very small ldl cholesterol (p = 0.012),systolic blood pressure (p = 0.021),and the fasting plasma glucose concentration (p = 0.038) were identified as independent determinants of bapwv,although a univariate analysis revealed significant relationships of several plasma lipid compositions or species to bapwv. conclusions: in addition to aging,hypertension and glucose levels,very small ldl cholesterol levels appear to play an important role in the development of arterial stiffness in men with impaired glucose metabolism.