[Level of lipids and apolipoproteins in obesity]

The level of lipids and apolipoproteins was studied in the serum of patients with various degrees of obesity without hormonal impairments in order to find interrelationship between obesity and atherosclerosis development. 14 men and 42 women aged 19-59 years were examined. Concentration of triglycerides and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol was distinctly higher in obese patients of both sexes than in normal weight persons. However, content of apo A-I and apo B was similar in blood of both obese and normal persons, while concentration of apo E was higher in obesity. In obesity, the ratio HDL cholesterol/A-I was decreased, thus indicating that the HDL3/HDL2 ratio was altered, showing a decreased content of the latter subfraction. The findings suggest that impairment in metabolism of mainly HDL and VLDL subfractions occurred in patients with obesity. These impairments were atherogenic and may be responsible for a high risk for atherosclerosis and heart ischemic disease in obese patients.