Lp(a) and apoB are more closely linked in African-Americans than Caucasians, a study of 336 Caucasians and 224 African-Americans (Atherosclerosis 2014)

Original title: Significant associations between lipoprotein(a) and corrected apolipoprotein B-100 levels in African-Americans

Atherosclerosis · 10 May 2014 · 6

Enkhmaa B, Anuurad E, Zhang W, Berglund L

This study compared the relationship between Lp(a) and apolipoprotein B (apoB)-containing lipoproteins in 336 Caucasians and 224 African-Americans. African-Americans had higher Lp(a) and HDL cholesterol and lower triglycerides than Caucasians, though total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, apoB and apoB/apoA-1 did not differ by ethnicity. Lp(a) correlated with total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, apoB and apoB/apoA-1 in both groups, but these associations remained significant only in African-Americans after adjusting for Lp(a) own cholesterol or apoB contribution; allele-specific apo(a) levels were also significantly associated with apoB and apoB/apoA-1 in African-Americans, particularly for smaller apo(a) sizes (fewer than 26 kringle-4 repeats). The findings suggest a closer relationship between Lp(a) and apoB in African-Americans than Caucasians, despite similar overall cholesterol and apoB levels between the two groups.

Original abstract

Objectives: Lipoprotein(a), Lp(a), represents an apolipoprotein (apo) B-carrying lipoprotein, yet the relationship between Lp(a) and apoB levels has not been fully explored.

Methods: We addressed the relationship between Lp(a) and apoB-containing lipoprotein levels in 336 Caucasians and 224 African-Americans. Our approach takes unique molecular properties of Lp(a) as well as contribution of Lp(a) to the levels of these lipoproteins into account.

Results: Levels of total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), apoB and apoB/apoA-1 did not differ across ethnicity. African-Americans had higher levels of Lp(a) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and lower triglyceride levels compared to Caucasians. Lp(a) levels were correlated with levels of TC (p < 0.005), LDL-C (p < 0.001), apoB (p < 0.05) or apoB/apoA-1 (p < 0.05) in both ethnic groups. These associations remained significant only in African-Americans after adjustments for the contribution of Lp(a)-cholesterol or Lp(a)-apoB. Furthermore, taking Lp(a)-apoB into account, allele-specific apo(a) levels were significantly associated with apoB levels and the apoB/apoA-1 ratio in African-Americans. The latter associations in African-Americans remained significant for allele-specific apo(a) levels for smaller apo(a) sizes (<26 K4 repeats), after controlling for the effects of age, sex, and BMI.

Conclusions: Although TC, LDL-C, and apoB levels were comparable between African-Americans and Caucasians, the associations of these parameters with Lp(a) and allele specific apo(a) levels differed between these two ethnic groups. In African-Americans, apoB and apoB/apoA-1 remained consistently and positively associated with both Lp(a) and allele-specific apo(a) levels after adjustments for the contribution of Lp(a)-apoB. The findings suggest an interethnic difference with a closer relationship between Lp(a) and apoB among African-Americans.

Summary written by lp-a.org from the published abstract; figures as published. Page updated 18 August 2026. Methods.