Visceral adiposity and endothelial lipase
Marie-Eve Paradis1, Karen O Badellino, Daniel J Rader
1Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods Institute, 2440 Boulevard Hochelaga, Laval University, Québec, Canada.
The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
|June 15, 2006
Summary
Elevated plasma endothelial lipase (EL) levels correlate with obesity and visceral fat in men. This association, however, may not be directly causal, suggesting other metabolic factors are involved.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Metabolic Syndrome
- Lipid Metabolism
Background:
- Endothelial lipase (EL) overexpression reduces high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in animal models.
- The role of EL in human obesity-related dyslipidemia remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between obesity, visceral adiposity, and plasma EL concentrations.
- To explore EL mRNA levels in adipose tissue.
Main Methods:
- Measured postheparin plasma EL concentrations using ELISA in 80 sedentary men.
- Assessed visceral adiposity via computed tomography.
- Quantified EL mRNA in subcutaneous and omental adipose tissues from 14 women.
Main Results:
- Plasma EL levels positively correlated with body mass index (R=0.46) and visceral adipose tissue (R=0.44).
- Elevated EL correlated with increased plasma cholesterol and triglycerides.
- EL mRNA levels were similar in different adipose depots and significantly lower than lipoprotein lipase mRNA.
Conclusions:
- Increased visceral adiposity is linked to higher plasma EL levels in men.
- The observed association is unlikely to be causal and may be influenced by other metabolic alterations.
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