Gender and age differences in the distribution of the HDL subclasses among the Chinese population

Background and aims: to analyze the gender and age differences in the distribution of the high‐density lipoprotein (HDL) subclasses among the Chinese population, and to clarify the mechanism of these changes. Methods and results: the apoA‐I contents of the plasma HDL subclasses were determined by 2‐DE coupled with immunodetection in 324 men (including 186 normolipidemic subjects) and 186 women (including 114 normolipidemic subjects). The contents of preβ 1 ‐HDL and HDL 3 (HDL 3c , HDL 3b , HDL 3a ) were significantly lower, whereas the contents of HDL 2a and HDL 2b were higher for women than for men in the <50 years age group. Moreover, the contents of preβ 1 ‐HDL and HDL 3 were higher for female subjects; the HDL 2a and HDL 2b contents were lower for both female and male subjects in the 50–59, 60–69, and ≥70 years age groups versus the subjects of the same gender in the <50 years age group. When compared to the normolipidemic premenopausal women, preβ 1 ‐HDL, HDL 3b , and HDL 3a increased while HDL 2b decreased significantly in normolipidemic men and postmenopausal women. Conclusions: the contents of the large‐sized HDL particles HDL 2b were higher, but the contents of the small‐sized HDL particles (preβ 1 ‐HDL, HDL 3b , HDL 3a ) were lower for women versus men in the <50 years age group. Meanwhile, the gender difference in distribution of the HDL subclass narrowed obviously with advancing age. Moreover, the characteristics of the HDL subclass distribution profile for the normolipidemic postmenopausal women resembled those for the normolipidemic men.