ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN SERUM-LIPIDS AND INDICATORS OF ADIPOSITY IN MEN WITH SPINAL-CORD INJURY

Several reports indicate that dyslipidemia, primarily depressed high density lipoprotein cholesterol, is common in persons with spinal cord injury. The purpose of this study was to assess the relationships between anthropometric and near infrared interactance measurements to the serum lipoprotein profiles of 46 men with spinal cord injury of > 6 months duration. Mean age (+/- SD) was 49.5 +/- 15.0 y and duration of injury was 17.5 +/- 13.0 y. Forty-one percent of the subjects had low high density lipoprotein cholesterol (< 35 mg dl(-1)) and 57% had elevated total cholesterol to high density lipoprotein cholesterol ratios (> 4.5). Abdominal circumference was most closely associated with the overall lipid profile and abdominal circumference/height ratio was the second strongest correlate. Body mass index, conicity index, and percent body fat estimated by near infrared interactance were significantly related to some lipid parameters; however, the relationships were weaker than for abdominal circumference or abdominal circumference/height. Significant correlations were found between abdominal circumference and serum high density lipoprotein cholesterol (r = -0.421, P < 0.01) and log(10) triglyceride (r = 0.587, P < 0.001) concentrations as well as the total cholesterol:high density lipoprotein cholesterol (r = 0.482, P < 0.01) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol-to-high density lipoprotein cholesterol (r = 0.387, P < 0.05) ratios. Based on these findings, the sample was partitioned by abdominal circumference into low (< 95 cm), moderate, and high (greater than or equal to 102 cm) risk subgroups. Compared to the low risk group the high risk subjects had lower high density lipoprotein cholesterol (35 +/- 9 vs 44 +/- 9, P < 0.03) and higher triglyceride (173 +/- 71 vs 101 +/- 30.4 mg dl(-1), P < 0.003 for log(10) triglyceride, non-transformed values shown) and total cholesterol:high density lipoprotein cholesterol (5.6 +/- 1.8 vs 4.2 +/- 1.1, P < 0.03). Our results confirm those of earlier investigators who found a high prevalence of depressed high density lipoprotein cholesterol in men with spinal cord injury. In addition, these findings suggest that abdominal adiposity, as indicated by abdominal circumference or abdominal circumference/height ratio, is an important correlate of the dyslipidemia associated with SCI.