The ApoC‐I Content of VLDL Particles is Associated with Plaque Size in Persons with Carotid Atherosclerosis

Abstract Previous studies have shown that postprandial triglyceride‐rich lipoproteins (TRLs) are enriched with apolipoprotein‐C‐I (apoC‐I) in healthy individuals with increased intima‐media thickness and in patients with coronary artery disease. The purpose of the present study was to determine apoC‐I in TRL in persons with carotid atherosclerosis and its relation to plaque area. A population‐based case ( n = 42)‐control ( n = 39) study was conducted in persons with carotid atherosclerosis, assessed by B‐mode ultrasound, and healthy controls. VLDL (Sf 20–400) was isolated in the fasting state and 4 h after ingestion of a standard fat meal. In the fasting state, persons with carotid atherosclerosis had increased number of apoC‐I per VLDL‐particle compared to persons without carotid atherosclerosis (8.6 ± 5.4 vs. 6.3 ± 4.2, P = 0.018). Total plaque area increased linearly ( P = 0.017) across tertiles of apoC‐I per VLDL‐particle. In the postprandial state, a similar increase in the number of apoC‐I per VLDL‐particle occurred in both cases and controls ( P < 0.001), but no significant difference was observed between groups. The number of apoC‐I per VLDL‐particle in the fasting state was accompanied by delayed clearance of TRL in the postprandial state, and associated with cholesterol enrichment of the VLDL‐particles. Our findings support the concept that the number of apoC‐I per VLDL‐particle may be of importance for initiation and progression of atherosclerosis.