Effects of selected anthropometric parameters on plasma lipoproteins, fatty acid composition, and lipoperoxidation

Four anthropometric parameters (body mass index, waist-to-hip circumference ratio, waist circumference, and ratio of subscapularis to triceps skinfold thickness), cutoff values being set according to the WHO guidelines, were compared as discriminative parameters for anthropometric, hemodynamic, and metabolic data relevant as risk factors of coronary heart disease. Waist circumference reflected differences between below and above cutoff values throughout all parameters, with the highest "effect size" values being for fat mass; blood pressure; glucose homeostasis parameters; plasma and LDL cholesterol; plasma, LDL, and VLDL apo B; and LDL oxidability (cumulative effect size value: 2777). Body mass index reflected most significantly plasma, LDL, and VLDL triglyceride; HDL and VLDL cholesterol; and content of linoleic acid in LDL phosphatidylcholine (cumulative effect size value: 2016). Waist-to-hip ratio dominated in effect size value only in VLDL oxidability (cumulative effect size value: 1497). Subscapularis to triceps skinfold thickness ratio had the lowest discriminating ability in all data.