The association between the apolipoprotein A1/ high density lipoprotein -cholesterol and diabetes in Taiwan - a cross-sectional study

Background: Traditional lipid indices have been associated with type 2 diabetes, but it remains uncertain which lipid index is the best discriminator for diabetes. In this study, we aimed to assess lipoproteins, traditional lipid variables, and other variables to discover their association with diabetes in the Taiwanese population. Methods: Data from a nationwide cross-sectional population-based survey of 3087 men and 3373 women in 2002 were analyzed in this study. All participants were assessed for anthropometry, glycosylated hemoglobin, fasting sugar and lipid profiles with triglycerides, high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), and apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA1) and B (ApoB). The ratio of LDL-C/HDL-C, ApoB/ApoA1, ApoB/LDL-C and ApoA1/HDL-C and other variables were analyzed to determine their potential roles in type 2 diabetes in the Taiwanese population. The Odds ratios (ORs) of the risk variables for diabetes were estimated using logistic regression and were adjusted for confounding factors. Results: The increased ratio of ApoA1/HDL-C was significantly associated with diabetes in men (top tertile vs. lowest: OR 2.98; 95% CI: 1.12 - 7.92; P-trend = 0.030) and women (top tertile vs. lowest: OR 2.15; 95% CI: 1.00 - 4.59; P-trend = 0.047). A modest increased diabetic risk was evident with ApoB/LDL-C in women (top tertile vs. lowest: OR 2.03; 95% CI: 1.07-3.85; P-trend = 0.028), but not in men (top tertile v. lowest: OR 1.69; 95% CI: 0.79-3.62; P-trend = 0.198). Conclusions: ApoA1/HDL-C had a significant linear association with diabetes in both sexes and was superior to other lipid and lipoprotein variables among the general Taiwanese population.