Association of factor VII protein concentration with lifestyle factors

Several studies have demonstrated that changes in fasting levels of factor VII coagulant activity (FVII:C), a thrombotic risk marker, are due to changes in FVII protein concentrations (FVII:Ag). Consequently, studies on FVII now often include measurements of FVII:Ag. The present cross-sectional study examined the association between several behavioural variables (body mass index, physical activity, tobacco or alcohol consumption) or physiological variables (total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose, insulin, fibrinogen, resting pulse, systolic blood pressure, bleeding time) and FVII:Ag in 439 51-y-old Danish men. In the multivariate analyses, body mass index (BMI), low physical activity, total cholesterol, short bleeding time, and insulin showed an independent positive association with FVII:Ag. The strongest independent association with FVII:Ag was found for total cholesterol. These results suggest that blood lipids are major determinants of FVII:Ag, but that other lifestyle factors such as insulin, BMI and physical activity can also influence FVII:Ag. Furthermore, the association between FVII:Ag and bleeding time suggests an effect of FVII or the FVII pathway on primary haemostasis.