Objective: To assess if the apolipoprotein (Apo) B/Apo A-I ratio in Saudi patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is associated with metabolic syndrome (MetS).
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 250 patients with T2DM, above 40 years of age, at King Abdulaziz University Hospital Diabetes Center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, between January and December 2006. Metabolic syndrome was defined, and compared according to 3 criteria, namely, National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III, International Diabetes Federation, and World Health Organization.
Results: In the 250 patients studied, all 3 definitions demonstrated significant increase in the Apo B/Apo A-I ratio, in Saudi type 2 diabetics with the MetS. There was a strong positive correlation between the Apo B/Apo A-I ratio and triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and total cholesterol (r=0.43-0.54, p<0.0001), and a weak, yet significant, correlation (r=0.14-0.21, p<0.05) with waist circumference, waist-hip ratio, fasting glucose, and hemoglobin A1c, however, not with body mass index (r=0.01, p=0.88). In contrast, the ratio showed strong negative correlation with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (r = -0.7, p<0.0001).
Conclusion: Apolipoprotein B/apolipoprotein A-I ratio is significantly associated with MetS in Saudi patients with T2DM, similar to observations made in other ethnic groups.