Sialic acid: an important contributor to cardiovascular risk

Background Serum total sialic acid (TSA) has been shown to be a strong cardiovascular risk factor with increased concentrations being associated with increased mortality. Serum TSA is also elevated in patients with type 2 diabetes including those with micro- and macrovascular complications. We wished, therefore, to test the hypothesis that serum TSA may be abnormal in individuals with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and impaired fasting glucose (IFG), in Fijian Melanesians. Method Twenty-one subjects with IGT (17 women and four men) were recruited along with 20 subjects with IFG (14 women and six men) and 22 normal subjects (12 women and 10 men). Serum TSA was 2·18 ± 0·027 mmol/L, 2·19 ±0·033mmol/L and 2·24 ±0·042 mmol/L in the three groups, respectively, which was not statistically different. Both systolic and diastolic blood pressure were, however, higher in the IGT group compared with the IFG and normal groups ( P< 0·04). Conclusion Serum TSA is not elevated in Fijian Melanesians with IGT and IFG although it is reported to be elevated in type 2 diabetes mellitus in other populations. Further research is needed to establish why serum TSA is a potent independent cardiovascular risk factor and is elevated in type 2 diabetes mellitus in some populations.

Download Full-text

Serum sialic acid concentration in patients with hypertriglyceridaemia showing the Frederickson's IIB phenotype

Clinical Science ◽

10.1042/cs0830593 ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 83 (5) ◽

pp. 593-595 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

M. Crook ◽

P. Tutt

Keyword(s):

Cardiovascular Risk ◽

Sialic Acid ◽

Normal Control ◽

Acid Concentration ◽

Serum Lipid ◽

Total Serum ◽

Control Group ◽

Total Sialic Acid ◽

Triacylglycerol Concentration ◽

Serum Sialic Acid

1. Serum total sialic acid concentration, recently shown to be a cardiovascular risk factor, and also serum lipid-associated sialic acid concentration were measured in 15 patients with hypertriglyceridaemia (fasting serum triacylglycerol concentration > 2.3 mmol/l) showing a Frederickson's type IIB phenotype, 15 patients with hypercholesterolaemia showing a IIA phenotype and 15 age- and sex-matched normal control subjects. 2. Total serum sialic acid concentration was significantly raised in the hypertriglyceridaemic group (84.9 ± 21.5 versus 64.9 ± 20.8 mg/dl, P<0.03, Mann—Whitney U-test) compared with the normal control group, as was serum lipid-associated sialic acid concentration (23.0 ± 4.3 versus 12.0 ± 3.2 mg/dl, respectively, P<0.001, Mann—Whitney U-test). 3. Serum total sialic acid concentration was also significantly elevated in the hypertriglyceridaemic group as compared with the IIA phenotype hypercholesterolaemic group (84.9 ± 21.5 versus 58.4 ± 11.7 mg/dl, P<0.03, Mann—Whitney U-test), as was serum lipid-associated sialic acid concentration (23.0 ± 4.3 versus 14.9 ± 4.7 mg/dl, P<0.001, Mann—Whitney U-test). 4. We suggest that serum concentrations of both total sialic acid and lipid-associated sialic acid may be useful markers of cardiovascular risk which could, in part, be related to hypertriglyceridaemia.

Download Full-text

Serum Sialic Acid, a Reputed Cardiovascular Risk Factor, is Elevated in South Asian Men Compared to European Men

Annals of Clinical Biochemistry International Journal of Laboratory Medicine ◽

10.1177/000456329803500207 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 35 (2) ◽

pp. 242-244 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

M Crook ◽

P Kerai ◽

V Andrews ◽

P Lumb ◽

R Swaminathan

Keyword(s):

Risk Factor ◽

Cardiovascular Risk ◽

Sialic Acid ◽

Racial Differences ◽

South Asian ◽

Cardiovascular Risk Factor ◽

Racial Groups ◽

Total Sialic Acid ◽

Asian Men ◽

Young Subjects

Serum total sialic acid (TSA) has recently been reported as a cardiovascular risk factor, but whether there are racial differences is not known. One hundred and twenty-four healthy young subjects (62 women and 62 men) were studied. Their age was 20.7 [0.9] years and they were matched for body mass index (BMI). Sixty-eight were of South Asian origin (37 women and 31 men) and 56 (25 women and 31 men) were European. Mean (SD) serum TSA was significantly higher in the South Asian men than the age-matched European men (74.3 [12.3]mg/dL versus 68.2 [13.0]mg/dL, P = 0.0198). In addition, serum TSA was significantly higher in South Asian women compared with European men (71.6 [8.9]mg/dL versus 68.2 [13.0]mg/dL, P = 0.0352). Finally, serum TSA was significantly higher in European women compared with European men (76.0 [13.1]mg/dL versus 69.2 [130]mg/dL, P = 0008). We conclude that serum TSA may be worth measuring in different racial groups and also may be useful to assess individuals at risk of cardiovascular disease. Large prospective studies may help to explain why serum TSA is a reputed cardiovascular risk factor and shows racial differences.

Download Full-text