Hemoglobin level and lipoprotein particle size
Päivi Hämäläinen1, Juha Saltevo2, Hannu Kautiainen3,4
1Department of Internal Medicine, Tampere University Hospital, Teiskontie 35, 33521, Tampere, Finland. Paivi.o.hamalainen@pshp.fi.
Insights
Higher hemoglobin levels correlate with unfavorable lipoprotein profiles, including larger very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) and smaller low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) particles, increasing cardiovascular disease risk.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Science
- Metabolic Health
- Lipidology
Background:
- Alterations in lipoprotein size are linked to cardiovascular disease risk.
- Elevated hemoglobin levels may indicate atherosclerosis risk and are associated with metabolic syndrome.
- No prior research explored the link between hemoglobin concentration and lipoprotein particle size.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between hemoglobin concentration and lipoprotein particle size.
- To determine if hemoglobin levels correlate with specific lipoprotein subclasses.
Main Methods:
- A population-based, cross-sectional study of 766 middle-aged Finnish subjects.
- Lipoprotein subclass particle concentrations and sizes analyzed using high-throughput nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy.
- Participants categorized into five age groups.
Main Results:
- Higher hemoglobin concentrations were associated with larger very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) particle diameter in men.
- Smaller high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particle sizes correlated with higher hemoglobin levels in both sexes.
- Increased VLDL particle concentration and a trend for increased LDL particle concentration were observed with higher hemoglobin levels.
Conclusions:
- Higher hemoglobin levels are linked to an unfavorable lipoprotein profile: larger VLDL, smaller LDL, and smaller HDL particles.
- This profile is associated with conditions that elevate cardiovascular disease risk, such as diabetes and metabolic syndrome.
- The findings suggest hemoglobin concentration as a potential indicator of adverse lipoprotein characteristics impacting cardiovascular health.
Background:
Alterations in lipoprotein size are associated with increased cardiovascular disease risk. Higher hemoglobin levels may indicate a higher risk of atherosclerosis and was previously associated with obesity, metabolic syndrome, and insulin resistance. No previous studies have investigated an association between hemoglobin concentration and lipoprotein particle size.
Methods:
We conducted a population-based, cross-sectional study of 766 Caucasian, middle-aged subjects (341 men and 425 women) born in Pieksämäki, Finland, who were categorized into five age groups. The concentrations and sizes of lipoprotein subclass particles were analyzed by high-throughput nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy.
Results:
Larger very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) particle diameter was associated with higher hemoglobin concentrations in men (p = 0.003). There was a strong relationship between smaller high density lipoprotein (HDL) particle size and higher hemoglobin concentration in both men and women as well as with smaller low density lipoprotein (LDL) particle size and higher hemoglobin concentration in men and women (p < 0.001; p = 0.009, p = 0.008). VLDL particle concentration had a moderate positive correlation with hemoglobin concentration (r = 0.15; p < 0.001). LDL particle concentration showed a statistical trend suggesting increasing particle concentration with increasing hemoglobin levels (r = 0.08; p = 0.05).
Conclusion:
Higher hemoglobin levels are associated with larger VLDL, smaller LDL, and smaller HDL particle sizes and increasing amounts of larger VLDL and smaller LDL particles. This suggests that a higher hemoglobin concentration is associated with an unfavorable lipoprotein particle profile that is part of states that increase cardiovascular disease risk like diabetes and metabolic syndrome.
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