1000/1000
Hot
Most Recent
Elevated plasma lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] is a relatively common and highly heritable trait conferring individuals time-dependent risk of developing atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD).
The distribution of plasma Lp(a) levels is highly variable among different ethnic groups with concentrations varying up to 1000-fold within each population, ranging from less than 0.1 mg/dL to as high as 387 mg/dL. The lowest levels are seen in non-Hispanic Caucasians, Chinese, and Japanese; slightly higher levels have been documented in Hispanics, while the highest levels are found in Blacks [90]. In Caucasians, plasma levels are comparable in men and women, and it is estimated that 20% of the population worldwide has an Lp(a) level >50 mg/dL (>105 nmol/L) [91], 5% of individuals has an Lp(a) level above 120 mg/dL (250 nmol/L), whereas only 1% of individuals has an extremely elevated Lp(a) level above the 99th percentile, corresponding approximately to 180 mg/dL. Plasma levels are generally unaffected by dietary interventions or various physiological and environmental factors, including age, sex, fasting state, or physical activity, but are also known to be slightly influenced by pregnancy, menopause, hormone use, cholestasis, thyroid dysfunction, acute phase events, and renal function [92].