An elevated apolipoprotein B/AI ratio is independently associated with microalbuminuria in male subjects with impaired fasting glucose

Background and aims: The ratio of apolipoprotein B/AI (apo B/AI) has been used as a marker to predict the risk of coronary artery disease. Recent studies have suggested an association between apolipoprotein B level and microalbuminuria in diabetic subjects. This study was performed to assess a possible association between the apo B/AI ratio and microalbuminuria in male subjects with impaired fasting glucose (IFG). Methods and results: In 1266 patients with fasting serum glucose level in the pre-diabetic range, urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR, μgmg ^-1) was measured from single morning voided urine. The presence of microalbuminuria was defined as a UACR between 30 and 299μgmg ^-1. Participants were stratified into four groups by apo B/AI quartiles, from the lowest to the highest. Apo B/AI was higher with increasing body mass index, higher serum triglyceride and serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, systolic and diastolic blood pressure values, but lower with higher high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations. After adjusting for these and other confounding factors, an increased apo B/AI ratio was independently associated with the presence of microalbuminuria. In receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses, apo B/AI ratio showed the highest correlation with the presence of microalbuminuria among the variables, although statistically not different. Conclusion: These findings indicate that apo B/AI ratio shows significant association with microalbuminuria in Korean male subjects with IFG.