Markers of enhanced cholesterol absorption are a strong predictor for cardiovascular diseases in patients without diabetes mellitus

Oliver Weingärtner*, Dieter Luetjohann, Tim Vanmierlo, Stephanie Mueller, Laureen Guenther, Wolfgang Herrmann, Michael Boehm, Ulrich Laufs, Markus Herrmann

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Hypercholesterolemia is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), and diabetes mellitus and statin treatment affect cholesterol metabolism. The aim of the present study was to evaluate markers of cholesterol metabolism and determine their relationship with CVD in patients without diabetes mellitus who were not receiving statin treatment.In addition to conventional CVD risk factors, plasma levels of campesterol and sitosterol (indicators of cholesterol absorption) and lathosterol (an indicator of cholesterol synthesis) were determined in 835 consecutive patients referred for coronary angiography. Coronary artery disease was evaluated by coronary angiograms, carotid atherosclerosis and peripheral vascular disease were assessed by Doppler ultrasound, and cerebrovascular accidents and transient ischemic attacks were identified by medical history.After excluding patients with known diabetes mellitus and those receiving statin treatment, 177 patients were included in the analysis. Compared to patients without CVDs (n=111), patients with concomitant CVDs (n=66) had a reduced lathosterol-to-cholesterol ratio (1.25?0.61 vs. 1.38?0.63, P
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)451-456
JournalChemistry and Physics of Lipids
Volume164
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Sept 2011

Keywords

  • Cholesterol
  • Plant sterol
  • Lathosterol
  • Diabetes mellitus
  • Cardiovascular diseases

Cite this