Serum folate modified the association between low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and carotid intima-media thickness in Chinese hypertensive adults

Congcong Ding, Chonglei Bi, Tengfei Lin, Lihua Hu, Xiao Huang, Lishun Liu, Chengzhang Liu, Yun Song, Genfu Tang, Binyan Wang, Xianhui Qin, Ying Yang, Yan Zhang, Jianping Li, Ping Li, Huihui Bao, Xiaobin Wang, Xiping Xu, Yong Huo, Xiaoshu Cheng

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Background and aims: While folate is known for its importance in cardiovascular health, it is unknown whether folate status can modify the association between low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT). We aimed to investigate this question in a Chinese hypertensive population, who are at high-risk of low folate and atherosclerosis. Methods and results: This report included 14,970 hypertensive adults (mean age 64.5 years; 40.3% male) from the China Stroke Primary Prevention Trial (CSPPT) and analyzed the fasting serum LDL-C and folate, and CIMT data obtained at the last follow-up visit. LDL-C was calculated using the Friedewald equation. Serum folate levels were measured by chemiluminescent immunoassay. CIMT was measured by ultrasound. Non-parametric smoothing plots, multivariate linear regression analysis, subgroup analyses and interaction testing were performed to examine the LDL-C–CIMI relationship and effect modification by folate. Consistent with graphic plots, multivariate linear regression showed that LDL-C levels were independently and positively associated with CIMT (β = 7.69, 95%CI: 5.76–9.62). More importantly, the relationship between LDL-C and CIMT was significantly attenuated with increasing serum folate levels (1st tertile: β = 10.06, 95%CI: 6.67–13.46; 2nd tertile: β = 6.81, 95%CI: 3.55–10.07; 3rd tertile: β = 5.96, 95%CI: 2.55–9.36; P-interaction = 0.045). Subgroup analyses showed the association between LDL-C and CIMT across serum folate tertiles was robust among various strata (all P-interaction >0.05). Conclusions: Among Chinese hypertensive adults, the serum folate levels could modify the association between LDL-C and CIMT. Our findings, if further confirmed, have important clinical implications.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2303-2311
Number of pages9
JournalNutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases
Volume30
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 27 2020

Keywords

  • Carotid intima-media thickness
  • Folate
  • Hypertension
  • Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Medicine (miscellaneous)
  • Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
  • Nutrition and Dietetics
  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

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