Age-based Study of Postprandial Lipemia in Hypertensives and Cigarette Smokers

Background and Objective: In this review, we have mainly examined the effect of age, smoking and hypertension on post prandial triglycerides, since an exaggerated postprandial accumulation of triglyceride promotes the development of atherosclerosis. This study was designed to test the hypothesis that smoking and hypertension are independently associated with postprandial hypertriglyceridemia and indirectly associated with atherosclerosis. Materials and methods: Lipid profiles were studied in 52 hypertensives, 48 smokers and 52 age, sex and body mass index matched healthy controls. Four age groups were made between 31-70 years. Fasting and postprandial triglyceridemia were determined sequentially at fasting and at 1 hr, 2 hr, 3 hr, 4 hr, 5 hr and 6 hr post load in the blood sample. Results: The repeated-measures analysis of triglyceride levels showed a distinct behavior of the age groups throughout the 6 hours in both controls and cases. The differences in behavior were significant (p<0.05). Total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol and fasting triglycerides did not differ much significantly over time between the groups. However, the postprandial plasma triglyceride concentration (mg/dL) increased significantly in hypertensives (226.5±82.9) and smokers (210.6±71.8) compared to control group (152±56.9), p<0.05. Increase in postprandial triglycerides was found with age and a positive correlation was found between increase in fasting triglycerides and post prandial triglycerides. Conclusion: Aging, hypertension and smoking has a significant effect on postprandial lipemia in healthy, young individuals revealing a close link between aging, hypertension, smoking, post prandial triglycerides and atherosclerosis.