Cholesterol Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Cholesterol, including details on high cholesterol, hdl, ldl, diet, risks.

High interleukin-6 plasma levels are associated with low HDL-C levels in community-dwelling older adults: the InChianti study.

Zuliani G, Volpato S, Blè A, Bandinelli S, Corsi AM, Lauretani F, Paolisso G, Fellin R, Ferrucci L

Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Internal Medicine, Gerontology & Geriatrics, University di Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy. gzuliani@hotmail.com <gzuliani@hotmail.com>

BACKGROUND: Low levels of high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) are associated with increased incidence of coronary heart disease (CHD). A better understanding of the mechanisms leading to low HDL-C and CHD is essential for planning treatment strategies. Clinical studies have demonstrated that cytokines might affect both concentration and composition of plasma lipoproteins, including HDLs. METHODS: We investigated the possible association between low HDL-C levels, defined as < or =10th gender specific percentile, and circulating markers of inflammation (IL-1beta, TNF-alpha, IL-6, IL-10, IL-18, and CRP) in a population of 1044 community dwelling older Italian subjects from the InChianti study. RESULTS: Using logistic regression analysis we demonstrated that IL-6 levels (III versus I tertile, OR: 2.10; 1.10-3.75), TG (III versus I tertile OR: 27.45; 8.47-88.93), fasting insulin (III versus I tertile OR: 2.84; 1.50-5.42), and age (OR: 1.038; 1.002-1.075) were associated with low HDL-C independent of smoking, BMI, waist circumference, hypertension, diabetes, physical activity, alcohol intake, oral hypoglycaemics, CRP, IL-18, and TNF-alpha levels. The adjusted attributable risk of low HDL-C in the exposed group (III tertile of IL-6) was 54%. CONCLUSIONS: The present study provides the epidemiological evidence that besides triglycerides, fasting insulin, and age, IL-6 is one of the main correlates of low HDL-C levels in older individuals.

Published 18 May 2007 in Atherosclerosis, 192(2): 384-90.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2004-2008 Cholesterol Research Today. All Rights Reserved.