Author Affiliations: Division of Humanities and Social Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, Republic of Korea (Lee JY); School of Sports Science, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea (Hong HR, Kang HS)

Corresponding Author: Hyun-Sik Kang, PhD, School of Sports Science, Sungkyunkwan University, 300 Chenchen-dong, Jangan-gu, Suwon, Republic of Korea (Tel: +82-31-299-6911; Fax: +82-31-299-6929; Email: hkang@skku.edu)

doi: 10.1007/s12519-011-0266-8

Background: Little is known about the association between apoC-III and lipoprotein-lipids in African American (AA) and Caucasian (CA) youths. The aim of this study was to investigate if plasma apoC-III level is associated with ethnicity differences in atherogenic lipoprotein-lipids between AA and CA youths.

Methods: A total of 202 youths (mean age 16.1±1.3 y, range 13.8-18.9 y) consisting of 122 AA (boys/girls, 52/70) and 80 CA (boys/girls, 40/40) youths were recruited via flyers sent to local high schools. For AA youths, body mass index (BMI) values were 22.5±5.0 kg/m² and 25.0±6.8 kg/m² for boys and girls, respectively. For CA youths, BMI values were 22.0±4.8 kg/m² and 22.1±5.0 kg/m² for boys and girls, respectively. Anthropometric variables were measured using standard procedures. Body fat was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Fasting glucose and insulin, lipoprotein-lipids, and apolipoproteins were measured in fasting plasma samples.

Results: AA youths had significantly lower values in apoC-III (P<0.001), triglyceride (P<0.001), and total cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P=0.011) and higher values in HDLC (P=0.004), apoE (P=0.016), insulin (P=0.027), and homoeostasis model of assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (P=0.025) than CA youths. Body composition and insulin resistance parameters were significantly associated with apoC-III levels in CA youths, but not in AA youths. Regression analyses showed that waist circumference and HOMA-IR were significant predictors for apoC-III in CA, not AA, youths.

Conclusions: The findings of the current study suggest that ethnicity differences in atherogenic lipids between AA and CA youths may be associated with differences in apoC-III and apoE levels.

Key words: adiposity; ethnicity; lipoprotein-lipids; pediatrics; risk factors

                    World J Pediatr 2011;7(2):136-142