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[Relationship between lipid profile and blood viscosity in a sample of Calabrian population]
C Carallo1, V Spagnuolo, D Siclari
1Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale e Clinica, Universitá degli Studi, Reggio Calabria, Facoltá di Medicina-Catanzaro.
Insights
Blood viscosity is directly correlated with non HDL-cholesterol and inversely with HDL-cholesterol. Elevated blood lipids significantly influence blood viscosity, potentially impacting arterial health.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Biochemistry
- Hematology
Background:
- Plasma viscosity is elevated in individuals with ischemic heart disease risk factors.
- The specific role of blood viscosity in cardiovascular health remains debated.
- Understanding blood viscosity's relationship with metabolic factors is crucial for atherosclerosis research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between blood lipid profiles and blood viscosity.
- To determine if specific lipid parameters correlate with increased blood viscosity.
- To explore the implications of these findings for arterial wall health.
Main Methods:
- One hundred seventy-eight male subjects (35-70 years) were enrolled in an atherosclerosis prevention campaign.
- Exclusion criteria included prior myocardial infarction or triglycerides > 400 mg/dl.
- Measurements included blood pressure, BMI, glucose, and blood viscosity, alongside lipid profiles (total cholesterol, HDL-C, triglycerides).
Main Results:
- Blood viscosity showed a significant direct correlation with non-HDL-C and an inverse correlation with HDL-C.
- Subjects with a total cholesterol/HDL-C ratio > 5 exhibited higher blood viscosity, even after adjusting for hematocrit, BMI, and glucose.
- These findings indicate a strong influence of lipid profile on blood viscosity.
Conclusions:
- Blood viscosity is significantly influenced by the overall lipid profile.
- Elevated blood lipids may contribute to increased blood viscosity, a factor in arterial wall damage.
- This study provides insights into the mechanisms linking dyslipidemia and cardiovascular risk.
Abstract:
Plasma viscosity is increased in subjects with risk factors for ischemic heart disease whereas the role of blood viscosity is controversial. Aim of the present study is to evaluate the relationship between blood lipids and blood viscosity. One hundred seventy eight male subjects have been enrolled, aged 35-70 years, participating in an atherosclerosis prevention campaign held in Catanzaro between September 1994 and April 1995. Subjects with previous myocardial infarction and/or plasma triglycerides > 400 mg/dl have been excluded. Blood pressure and body mass index (BMI) have been measured and blood has been withdrawn for determination of total cholesterol (T-CHOL), triglycerides, HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C), glucose and blood viscosity. Blood viscosity resulted significantly directly correlated to non HDL-C and inversely to HDL-C. The population has been divided in two groups according to T-CHOL/HDL-C ratio value. Subjects with T-CHOL/HDL-C > 5 showed increased values of blood viscosity, after adjustment for haematocrit, BMI and glucose. These results demonstrate that blood viscosity is strongly influenced by lipid profile. This might contribute to better understand the deleterious effects that elevated concentrations of blood lipids exert on arterial wall.