Factors influencing Lp-PLA2 elucidated

MedWire News: Results show that not smoking, use of hormone therapy, normal body mass index (BMI), and increased alcohol and protein consumption all favorably influence levels of lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A₂ (Lp-PLA₂) activity.

“Elevated Lp-PLA₂ may be positively associated with risk of coronary artery disease,” say researchers, “yet little is known about potentially modifiable factors related to Lp-PLA₂.”

To investigate further, Eric Rimm (Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA) and colleagues measured the activity of Lp-PLA₂ and potential influencing factors in 853 women from the Nurses’ Health Study and 878 men from the Professionals Follow-Up Study, none of whom had cardiovascular disease or cancer.

As reported in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, the team found that replacing 5% of dietary energy obtained through consumption of carbohydrates with energy from protein reduced Lp-PLA₂ activity by 2.20 nmol/min/ml, and increasing alcohol consumption by 15 g/day reduced Lp-PLA₂ activity by 4.40 nmol/min/ml.

Use of postmenopausal hormones and lipid-lowering medication also appeared to decrease levels of Lp-PLA₂ activity.

In contrast, smoking, use of aspirin, hypercholesterolemia, being overweight (BMI above 25 kg/m²), and older age were all associated with increased levels of Lp-PLA₂ activity.

“Clinical interventions that aim to favorably influence the lipid profile may confer a beneficial effect on Lp-PLA₂,” say Rimm et al.

“However, this study suggests that the identified modifiable variables may affect Lp-PLA₂ activity independent of their effects on the lipid profile.”

They conclude: “Because Lp-PLA₂ activity may represent a novel pathway associated with increased coronary heart disease, it is necessary to identify other modifiable factors that influence Lp-PLA₂ activity.”

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By Helen Albert