Abstract
Background: Apolipoprotein B (apo B), apolipoprotein C-II (apo C-II), and apolipoprotein C-III (apo C-III) play important roles in very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) metabolism. Whether they influence the relationship between intra-pancreatic fat deposition (IPFD) and VLDL is unknown. The aim was to investigate whether the association between VLDL cholesterol (VLDL-C) and IPFD varies between individuals with and without dysapolipoproteinaemia involving apo B, apo C-II, and apo C-III. Methods: Abdominal magnetic resonance imaging at 3T was performed to quantify IPFD. VLDL-C was measured using the Quantimetrix Lipoprint(®) system, whereas apo B, apo C-II, and apo C-III levels were analysed using the MILLIPLEX(®) (xMAP) assay. Dysapolipoproteinemia was defined as apolipoprotein levels above the upper quartile of the overall cohort. Univariable and multivariable linear regression analyses were performed, adjusting for age, sex, ethnicity, waist-to-hip ratio, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and insulin resistance. Results: A total of 32 individuals had dysapolipoproteinaemia, whereas 96 had normoapolipoproteinaemia. Among those with dysapolipoproteinaemia involving apo B, apo C-II, and apo C-III, VLDL-C levels were significantly and positively associated with IPFD. In the fully adjusted model, each unit increase in VLDL-C corresponded to a 0.82% (p = 0.011), 1.05% (p = 0.003), and 1.00% (p = 0.005) increase in IPFD, respectively. No significant association between VLDL-C and IPFD was observed in individuals with normoapolipoproteinaemia. Conclusions: Altered apolipoprotein profiles influence the association between VLDL-C and IPFD.