Gender-specific association between a novel atherogenic index of plasma, metabolic parameters and inflammation among obese adults

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have demonstrated the association between lipoprotein combined index (LCI), as a novel atherogenic index with cardiovascular disease, fatty liver, diabetes and numerous other health problems; however, its association with metabolic syndrome risk and its components has not been investigated before. The current study was aimed to investigate the association between LCI metabolic and inflammatory risk factors among obese men and women. METHODS: In the current cross-sectional study, the association between LCI, anthropometric parameters and metabolic risk factors including serum lipids, glycemic markers, insulin resistance and C - reactive protein (CRP) concentrations were measured. LCI was calculated as (total cholesterol [TC] × triglyceride [TG] × low density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL]) / (high density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL]). RESULTS: Highest quartiles of LCI was accompanied with higher waist to hip ratio (P = 0.017). Also, higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure, higher serum lipids and lower high density lipoprotein concentrations were observed in higher quartiles of LCI HDL (P < 0.05). Among men and women, higher LCI was also associated with higher CRP and lower HDL in men (P < 0.05); while among women, higher CRP, TG, TC and lower HDL was observed in highest versus lowest quartiles of LCI (P < 0.05). Among anthropometric and biochemical variables, TG has the highest power for identification of metabolic syndrome with area under curve (AUC) of 0.82 and Youden index of 0.58 while LCI was in the second place after TG in prediction of metabolic syndrome (e.g. AUC of 0.80 and Youden index of 0.47). CONCLUSION: LCI was in direct association with lipid parameters and inflammation among obese men and women. Although predictive power of LCI for metabolic syndrome was acceptable, but it came in the second place after TG for men and women. Further studies are warranted to make a better conclusion. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: Not applicable.