Atherogenic Triad in Overweight and Obese Adults in Benin-City, South-South Nigeria

Context: Atherogenic triad is a constellation of lipid abnormalities characterised by elevated small, dense low- density lipoprotein particles, decreased high- density lipoprotein particles and hypertriglyceridaemia.

Aim: This study determined the prevalence of atherogenic triad among the overweight and obese adults in Benin-City, South-South, Nigeria.

Setting and Design: Study was conducted among overweight and obese adults in Benin City. It is a cross-sectional study.

Materials and Methods: This study was conducted among 138 overweight and obese adults in Benin- City, Nigeria between July and September 2016. The concentration of small, dense LDL-cholesterol was determined using precipitation method involving sodium-heparin and manganese II chloride as described by Hirano et al. Subjects were categorised into three groups (ideal weight, overweight and obese) based on their body mass index.

Results: The mean small dense LDL-cholesterol levels in the three groups were 0.79 ± 0.16, 0.96 ± 0.15 and 1.33 ± 0.26 mmol/l respectively which were statistically different, triglyceride levels were 1.41±0.73, 1.33±0.61 and 1.31±0.73 mmol/L in the ideal weight, overweight and obese categories respectively, while plasma HDL-cholesterol were 0.85±0.20, 1.05±0.34 and 0.94±0.30 mmol/L in the ideal weight, overweight and obese groups respectively. Elevated LDL-cholesterol was seen in more than 80% of the normal weight and the obese subjects and; 57.8% of the overweight subjects. Two (3.6%) obese subjects had elevated sdLDL-C with LDL-C within the reference interval. Reduced HDL-C was found more in the normal weight and obese subjects while atherogenic triad was detected in 7 (15.2%) of the obese.

Conclusion: The prevalence of atherogenic triad among the obese adult was 15.2%. The prevalence of the atherogenic triad components was higher among the obese individuals than the overweight. There is an urgent need for the introduction of therapeutic lifestyle modification among overweight and obese individuals in Nigerian population.