(12-11-07) HDL cholesterol levels inversely related to levels of anti-inflammatory markers

New research presented at the ESC congress has demonstrated an inverse relationship between levels of HDL cholesterol and levels of inflammatory markers.

Researchers from centres in Glyfada and Athens, Greece, studied data from the ATTICA study, a population-based cohort of 1,128 men and 1,154 women free of cardiovascular disease.

Overall, 46% of the men and 40% of the women had total serum cholesterol levels higher than 200 mg/dL, and 21% of men and 7% of women had HDL cholesterol levels below 35 mg/dL. Mean HDL cholesterol levels were 44 mg/dL in men and 53 mg/dL in women.

After adjusting for potentially confounding factors (including sex, age, body mass index, physical activity, smoking, total cholesterol, use of lipid-lowering agents, alcohol intake, and diabetes), HDL cholesterol levels were found to be inversely and significantly related to levels of the inflammatory markers high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and homocysteine. However, no such association was found between HDL cholesterol and the inflammatory markers interleukin-6 and serum amyloid A.

Dr Christina Chrysohoou, who presented the study findings at the ESC congress, said the results were consistent with previous research suggesting a role for HDL cholesterol in moderating inflammatory processes, and also provided an explanation for the protective effect of HDL cholesterol against cardiovascular disease.

Source: European Society of Cardiology congress, Vienna, Austria, 1-5 September 2007, presentation number 325.

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