Gender Comparison of some Apolipoprotein and Lipid Profiles in Apparently Healthy Adult Male and Female Subjects at Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, South-Eastern Nigeria

Abstract

Apolipoproteins are a group of proteins that are found on the surface of lipoprotein particles and are involved in lipid metabolism. Lipoproteins are complexes of lipids and proteins that transport lipids in the bloodstream, transport triglycerides to peripheral tissues, and reverse transport of cholesterol from peripheral tissues to the liver for excretion. They are important biomarkers of lipid metabolism and are known to be associated with an increased risk of CVD. This study aims to assess the effect of gender on some of the apolipoproteins and lipid profiles studied at Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH) Nnewi. A total of 51 adult female and 49 adult male subjects were randomly recruited at the Voluntary and counseling center NAUTH. The apolipoproteins such as Apo A-1, Apo A-2, Apo B, Apo C-2, Apo C-3, and Apo E, and the lipoproteins such as Total cholesterol (Chol), Low-Density Lipids (LDL), High-Density Lipids (HDL), and Triglycerides (TG) were analyzed using routine laboratory analyses. The data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21, independent Students’-test, and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to compare means. The Apo A-1, Apo A-2, Apo B, Chol, HDL, and TG levels were significantly elevated in the male subjects compared to the female subjects with p<0.05. Conclusively, the male subjects studied were more prone to cardiovascular conditions.