Racial variation in lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A₂in older adults

Abstract Background Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) is a predictor of cardiovascular events that has been shown to vary with race. The objective of this study was to examine factors associated with this racial variation. Methods We measured Lp-PLA2 mass and activity in 714 healthy older adults with no clinical coronary heart disease and not taking dyslipidemia medication. We evaluated the association between race and Lp-PLA2 mass and activity levels after adjustment for various covariates using multivariable linear regression. These covariates included age, sex, diabetes, hypertension, body mass index, lipid measurements, C-reactive protein, smoking status, physical activity, diet, income, and education level. We further examined genetic covariates that included three single nucleotide polymorphisms shown to be associated with Lp-PLA2 activity levels. Results The mean age was 66 years. Whites had the highest Lp-PLA2 mass and activity levels, followed by Hispanics and Asians, and then African-Americans; in age and sex adjusted analyses, these differences were significant for each non-White race as compared to Whites (p 2 mass and 24.7 nmol/ml-min lower activity, compared with Whites, independent of age and sex (p 2 mass and activity levels (p 2 mass and 17.3 nmol/ml-min lower activity compared with Whites (p Conclusion Biological, lifestyle, demographic, and select genetic factors do not appear to explain variations in Lp-PLA2 mass and activity levels between Whites and non-Whites, suggesting that Lp-PLA2 mass and activity levels may need to be interpreted differently for various races.</p

A Randomized controlled trial of culturally-tailored dance and reducing screen time to prevent weight gain in low-Income African-American girls: Stanford GEMS

Child and adolescent obesity have more than tripled among African-American girls since the 1960’s, with the greatest increases since 1980.1–3 Body mass index (BMI) differences between white and black girls are present before age six years, significantly widen in older age groups, and are independent of socioeconomic status.4 Reviews of cardiovascular disease and cancer risk reduction studies in children and adolescents suggest that body weight may be more difficult to change than other risk factors.5–7 Few studies have tested intervention strategies specifically designed for African-American girls and their families.8–13 Girls’ health Enrichment Multi-site Studies (GEMS) was a National, Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)-sponsored collaborative effort to develop and test interventions to reduce weight gain in African-American preadolescent girls.8–13 This paper describes the outcomes of the Stanford GEMS trial, a 2-arm parallel group, randomized controlled trial to test the efficacy of a culturally-tailored after school dance program and a family-based intervention to reduce television, videotape and video game use to reduce body mass index gain among lower socioeconomic status (SES) African-American pre-adolescent girls. Participants were randomized to the dance and television reduction intervention versus an information-based health education intervention for 2 years