Context: Recent studies highlight a critical interaction between adipocyte fatty acid binding protein (A-FABP) and cardiovascular disorders. However, associations of A-FABP with subclinical atherosclerosis in a population with normal glucose tolerance remain unknown.
Objective: The study aimed to evaluate the relationship between A-FABP and carotid intima-media thickness (C-IMT) in a Chinese population with normal glucose tolerance.
Design and setting: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted of 2253 cardiovascular disease-free normal glucose tolerance subjects (835 men, 1418 women; 20-78 years old) from the Shanghai Obesity Study.
Main outcome and measures: C-IMT was measured by B-mode ultrasound and used to assess subclinical atherosclerosis. Serum A-FABP levels were quantified by a sandwich ELISA.
Results: The median serum level for A-FABP was 4.0 ng/mL (interquartile range: 2.6-6.0 ng/mL), and significantly higher in women than men (P < .001). After adjusting for age and body mass index (BMI), a partial correlation analysis showed that A-FABP levels correlated with C-IMT in men, premenopausal, and postmenopausal women (P = .024, .006, and .016, respectively). Furthermore, C-IMT increased along with quartile A-FABP values (all P for trend <.001). Regression analyses demonstrated that A-FABP was associated with C-IMT only in women (P = .044 and .001 for pre- and postmenopausal, respectively). Moreover, A-FABP was identified as a risk factor for C-IMT in pre- and postmenopausal women with a normal BMI (P < .001 and P = .012, respectively).
Conclusions: Serum A-FABP levels independently and positively correlate with subclinical atherosclerosis in pre- and postmenopausal Chinese women with normal glucose tolerance after adjustments for the traditional risk factors.