Association between lipoprotein(a) and oxygen reactive metabolite in asymptomatic subjects

Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] is generally considered a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). The coexistence of Lp(a) and oxidative status may be associated with the pathophysiology of the Lp(a)-CVD linkage.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the correlation between Lp(a) and oxidative status using the diacron Reactive Oxygen Metabolite (d-ROM) test as an oxidative stress-related marker in asymptomatic subjects.

The serum levels of Lp(a) and d-ROM were measured in 322 subjects (male/female 138/184; mean age 58.5 years) in addition to body mass index, blood pressure, glycemia, and lipid profile.

The median levels of Lp(a) were 14.6 mg/dl (interquartile range 6.7-30.3) and the mean levels of d-ROM were 332 ± 67 U. Carr. A simple linear regression analysis showed that the d-ROM level was significantly and positively correlated with Lp(a) (correlation coefficient = 0.22, P <0.01). Multivariate-adjusted analyses confirmed this weak but significant correlation, independent of confounding variables. This correlation appeared to be relatively stronger in men than in women.

A positive correlation between Lp(a) and oxidative status, as assessed by d-ROM, in this population may be partially associated with the Lp(a)-CVD relationship.