Apolipoproteins AI, AII and B in young adults: Associations with CHD risk factors. The Beaver County experience

Although the associations of lipoprotein lipids and apoproteins with coronary heart disease (CHD) risk factors have been examined in middle-aged populations, there is little data among younger subjects where these associations may be stronger. The authors quantitated apolipoproteins AI, AII and B as well as lipoprotein lipids in 172 young adults (aged 20-24 years) from a defined population in Beaver County, Penn. and examined cross-sectional associations with known risk factors. Female nonusers of oral contraceptives (OC) had higher mean concentrations of HDL-C and lower levels of LDL-C and triglycerides than men (p < 0.05) although there was no significant sex difference in apo AI (p > 0.10), while apo B was higher among men (p < 0.01). OC use was positively related to apo AI and AII (p < 0.05) but not to HDL-C. Cigarette smoking was inversely associated with apo AI, AII and HDL-C while alcohol intake was positively associated with these factors. These results suggest that in general, correlates of lipoprotein lipids and apoproteins in young adults parallel those in middle-aged subjects and suggest further that quantitation of both at an early age may help prevent CHD and further elucidate the atherosclerotic process.