Subclass distribution of low-density lipoprotein triglyceride and the clustering of metabolic syndrome components in Japanese children.

BACKGROUND Recent studies demonstrated that low-density lipoprotein-tryglyceride (LDL-TG) may represent an another marker of cardiovascular risks. Therefore, we measured LDL-TG including the LDL subclass distribution and investigated the association between LDL-TG subclass profile and the clustering of MetS components and insulin resistance in Japanese children. METHODS The study included 237 schoolchildren (boys 115, girls 122). LDL-TG in 4 subclasses (large, medium, small, and very small) were quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography. Total LDL-TG and TG levels in LDL subclasses were evaluated among 4 MetS component groups; non-abdominal obesity, abdominal obesity, pre-MetS, and MetS. RESULTS Total LDL-TG (p=0.0003, p=0.0175) and TG levels in LDL subclasses were significantly different among groups with increasing as the clustering of MetS components (large: p=0.0002, p=0.0084; medium : p=0.0009, p=0.0491; small: p=0.0025, p=0.0509; very small: p=0.0808, p=0.0228; boys and girls, respectively). Total LDL-TG (r=0.411. p<0.0001, r=0.378. p<0.0001) and TG levels in LDL subclasses correlated positively with HOMA-R (large: r=0.396, p<0.0001, r=0.346. p<0.0001; medium: r=0.274, p=0.0030, r=0.228, p=0.0115; small: r=0.342, p=0.0002, r=0.292. p=0.0011; very small: r=0.385, p<0.0001, r=0.426, p<0.0001, boys and girls, respectively) CONCLUSIONS: Subclass distribution of LDL-TG had a significant association with the clustering of MetS components in both sexes, and insulin resistance is a significant determinant of LDL-TG in all LDL subclasses. LDL-TG subclass analysis, rather than LDL-C, may provide a precise evaluation for CVD risks in children with MetS.