Cited by 175Lipoproteins and Cardiovascular HealthDiabetes, Cardiovascular Risks, and LipoproteinsLipid metabolism and disorders

VLDL Cholesterol Accounts for One-Half of the Risk of Myocardial Infarction Associated With apoB-Containing Lipoproteins

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Balling, Mie, Afzal, Shoaib, Varbo, Anette, Langsted, Anne, Davey Smith, George, Nordestgaard, Børge G.·2020·Journal of the American College of Cardiology

Abstract

Background Plasma apolipoprotein B (apoB) is a composite measure of all apoB-containing lipoproteins causing atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease; however, it is unclear which fraction of risk is explained by cholesterol and triglycerides, respectively, in very low-density lipoproteins (VLDLs). Objectives The authors tested the hypothesis that VLDL cholesterol and triglycerides each explain part of the myocardial infarction risk from apoB-containing lipoproteins. Methods Nested within 109,751 individuals from the Copenhagen General Population Study, the authors examined 25,480 subjects free of lipid-lowering therapy and myocardial infarction at study entry. All had measurements of plasma apoB (quantitating number of apoB-containing lipoproteins) and cholesterol and triglyceride content of VLDL, intermediate-density lipoproteins (IDLs), and low-density lipoproteins (LDLs). Results During a median 11 years of follow-up, 1,816 were diagnosed with myocardial infarction. Per 1-mmol/l higher levels, multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios for myocardial infarction were 2.07 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.81 to 2.36) for VLDL cholesterol, 1.19 (95% CI: 1.14 to 1.25) for VLDL triglycerides, 5.38 (95% CI: 3.73 to 7.75) for IDL cholesterol, and 1.86 (95% CI: 1.62 to 2.14) for LDL cholesterol. Per 1-g/l higher plasma apoB, the corresponding value was 2.21 (95% CI: 1.90 to 2.58). In a step-up Cox regression, risk factors for myocardial infarction entered by importance as VLDL cholesterol, systolic blood pressure, smoking, and IDL + LDL cholesterol, whereas VLDL triglycerides did not enter the model. VLDL cholesterol explained 50% and IDL + LDL cholesterol 29% of the risk of myocardial infarction from apoB-containing lipoproteins, whereas VLDL triglycerides did not explain risk. Conclusions VLDL cholesterol explained one-half of the myocardial infarction risk from elevated apoB-containing lipoproteins, whereas VLDL triglycerides did not explain risk.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.jacc.2020.09.610

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  • Recent studies have suggested that triglycerides and remnant cholesterol may be more potent risk factors for myocardial infarction than LDL-C is.

    “These studies have suggested that TG and remnant cholesterol may be more potent risk factors for myocardial infarction (MI) than LDL-C is.2,3”

    From Association of Apolipoprotein B–Containing Lipoproteins and Risk of Myocardial Infarction in Individuals With and Without Atherosclerosis (2022) · cites this paper as [3]

    The paper’s Abstract (page unavailable) reports that VLDL cholesterol explained 50% of the myocardial-infarction risk associated with apoB-containing lipoproteins, compared with 29% for IDL plus LDL cholesterol. This supports the remnant-cholesterol portion of the claim. It does not support the triglyceride portion: the same passage says VLDL triglycerides did not explain that risk. (LLM, conf=0.88)

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Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. Goldberg IJ, Eckel RH, McPherson R. Tri- glycerides and heart disease: still a hypothesis? Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2011;31:1716-25.
  2. Mahley RW, Rall SC. Type III hyper- lipoproteinemia (dysbetalipoproteinemia): the role of apolipoprotein E in normal and abnormal lipo- protein metabolism. In: Scriver CR, Beaudet AL, Sly WS, Valle D, editors. The Metabolic & Molec- ular Bases of Inherited Disease. United States of America: McGraw-Hill, 2001:2835-62.

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Authors
Balling, M., Afzal, S., Varbo, A., Langsted, A., Davey Smith, G., & Nordestgaard, B. G.
Affiliations
University of Copenhagen (DK)
Corresponding author
Nordestgaard, Børge G.
Venue
Journal of the American College of Cardiology
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2020-12
Volume
76
Issue
23
Pages
2725-2735
ISSN
0735-1097 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W3107369671
Cited by
175
References
61
Citations by year
2026: 12 · 2025: 25 · 2024: 39 · 2023: 35 · 2022: 24 · 2021: 39 · 2020: 1
FWCI
22.61
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of the American College of Cardiology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Research at the University of Copenhagen (University of Copenhagen) (publishedVersion, other-oa)
Funders
  • University of Bristol (MC_UU_00011/1)
  • Novo Nordisk Fonden (NNF18OC0052893)
  • Hjerteforeningen (18-R124-A8511-22089)
  • Medical Research Council
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Surgery › Lipoproteins and Cardiovascular Health
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Diabetes, Cardiovascular Risks, and Lipoproteins
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Lipid metabolism and disorders
Keywords
apolipoprotein B, apoB-containing lipoproteins, VLDL cholesterol, VLDL triglycerides, intermediate-density lipoprotein cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, myocardial infarction risk, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, lipoprotein fractions, Copenhagen General Population Study, smoking, systolic blood pressure
MeSH terms
Aged, Apolipoproteins B, Denmark, Female, Humans, Lipoproteins, VLDL, Male, Middle Aged, Myocardial Infarction, Risk, Triglycerides, Cholesterol, VLDL, Cohort Studies

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