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Obesity is a pathological condition which increases the risk for cardiovascular disease. The present study was designed to evaluate homocysteine, lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)], apolipoprotein-B (apo-B), apolipoprotein-A-I (apo-A-I) and lipid indices and their association if any in obese South Indian men. Thirty obese men and thirty age-matched males with normal body weight (controls) were recruited in the study. Plasma homocysteine, Lp(a), lipid profile, apo-A-I and apo-B were estimated in all the subjects. Lipid indices such as lipid pentad index (LPI), lipid tetrad index (LTI), atherogenic index of plasma (AIP), non-high density lipoprotein (non-HDL)/high density lipoprotein (HDL) ratio and apo-B/apo-A-I ratio were calculated in all study subjects. Homocysteine, Lp(a), apo-B, apo-B/apo-A-I ratio and lipid indices were significantly increased in obese men, compared to controls. Both homocysteine and Lp(a) were positively correlated with BMI, waist, hip circumference and apo-B and negatively correlated with apo-A-I. Also we found highly significant positive correlation between homocysteine and Lp(a) levels. The data from the present study concludes that non-conventional risk factors like homocysteine, Lp (a), apo-B/apo-A-I ratio, LTI, LPI, non-HDL/HDL ratio and AIP were significantly elevated in obese Indian men, suggesting they are more prone to develop cardiovascular disease, than the age-matched men with normal body weight.

Background: Estimation of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol is crucial in the management of ischemic heart disease patients. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol is routinely calculated in laboratories world over by applying Friedewald formula for logistic reasons. We derived a new formula based on multiple regression approach., Methods: Lipid profiles were done on blood samples of 2008 patients. In initial 1000 patients, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol was estimated by a direct method and also by Friedewald formula. By applying linear regression methods on the data of direct estimation method, a new formula was obtained and the accuracy of this new formula was validated in the next 1008 patients., Results: The mean low-density lipoprotein cholesterol was 116+/-41.5 mg/dl (3.02+/-1.08 mmol/l) measured by direct low-density lipoprotein cholesterol assay and that calculated by Friedewald formula was 119+/-46 mg/dl (3.09+/-1.2 mmol/l) for the initial 1000 patients. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol measured by direct low-density lipoprotein cholesterol assay and calculated from Friedewald formula showed good correlation (r = 0.88), however, there was minimal overestimation by the Friedewald formula. The correlation improved between direct low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and calculated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol after excluding the patients with triglycerides more than 350 mg/dl (r = 0.92). The mean low-density lipoprotein cholesterol measured by the direct assay and by new formula in the next 1008 patients was 117+/-40 mg/dl (3.04+/-1.04 mmol/l) and 113.7+/-37 mg/dl (2.96+/-0.96 mmol/l), respectively with very good correlation (r = 0.97) between them., Conclusions: The new formula derived from multiple linear regression analysis appears to be more accurate than Friedewald formula in Indian population.