Looking for a more useful Atherogenic Index for Nigerians

Abstract

Researchers have divided opinion as to which lipid fraction or cholesterol ratio can effectively be used to predict the chances of an individual developing heart disease or can best describe the atherogenic index of an individual. In this study the atherogenic risk of Nigerian hypertensives and normotensives was examined by different parameters in an attempt to find out which one best separates the high risk individual from the one with low risk of atherogenicity. Lipid profile and lipid ratios were examined by standard methods in 330 untreated hypertensives and 110 age snd sex matched normotensives in Nigerian hypertensives and normotensives respectively in UBTH, Benin City, Nigeria. Statistical analysis was used to determine which lipid parameter(s) gave a better reflection of the atherogenic index. The mean of serum lipids and lipid ratios were significantly higher in the hypertensives than in the normotensives. The mean of the atherogenic index of plasma (AIP), log (Tg/HDL-C) was significantly positive for the hypertensives but significantly negative for the study population and for the normotensives, p< 0.0001. Less than 17 % of the hypertensives and none of the normotensives had abnormal lipid ratios whilst less than 15% of normotensives had abnormal lipid values and none of them had abnormal lipid ratio. Sixty percent of hypertensives had positive AIP. Normotensives had only negative AIP values. The AIP therefore holds promise as a better index of atherogenicity than the cholesterol ratios or absolute lipid status.

Keywords: Atherogenic index; esterification rate; Nigerian African