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Abstract
Background
Lipid oxidation and formation of oxygen radicals have been identified to be the important factors of atherogenesis. Because bilirubin, a potent physiological antioxidant inhibits lipid oxidation, it is suggested that low serum concentrations of bilirubin is associated with atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between bilirubin levels and coronary atherosclerosis.
Methods
The coronary calcium score (CCS) of 172 subjects (male 63, mean age 60.5 ± 1.0) with type 2 diabetes were evaluated in Yeungnam University Hospital between January 2005 and February 2007. The subjects were divided into two groups with CCS 10 as the cut off.
Results
Higher CCS was significantly associated with lower bilirubin (P < 0.05), but after adjusted with age, no longer correlation were seen (P = 0.121). To determine the relationship between subclinical coronary atherosclerosis and bilirubin, the subjects with previous history of cardiovascular disease were excluded. In 138 subjects (male 54, mean age 58.4 ± 1.1), higher CCS was significantly associated with lower levels of bilirubin. After adjusted with age, duration of diabetes, and history of hypertension, CCS was also inversely related with bilirubin (P < 0.05).
Figures and Tables
Fig. 1
Serum total bilirubin level in patients of type 2 diabetes without coronary artery disease. Higher CCS was significantly associated with lower levels of bilirubin. CCS, coronary calcium score. *P < 0.05.
Table 1
Clinical characteristics of all subjects according to CCS
Data are expressed as mean ± SE. CCS, Coronary calcium score; BMI, body mass index; SBP, systolic blood pressure; DBP, diastolic blood pressure; T-bil, total bilirubin; D-bil, direct bilirubin; Cr, creatine; CCr, Creatinine clearance; T-chol, total cholesterol; TG, triglyceride; HDL-C, high density lipoprotein cholesterol; LDL-C, low density lipoprotein cholesterol; HOMA-IR, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance; AST, aspartate aminotransferase; ALT, alanine aminotrasferase; GGT, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase. *P < 0.05, CCS > 10 vs. CCS ≤ 10.
Table 2
Clinical characteristics of subjects without CHD in T2 DM according to CCS
Data are expressed as mean ± SE. CCS, Coronary calcium score; CHD, coronary heart disease; BMI, body mass index; SBP, systolic blood pressure; DBP, diastolic blood pressure; T-bil, total bilirubin; D-bil, direct bilirubin; Cr, creatine; CCr, Creatinine clearance; T-chol, total cholesferol; TG, triglyceride; HDL-C, high density lipoprotein cholesferol; LDL-C, low density lipoprotein cholesterol; HOMA-IR, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance; AST, aspartate aminotransferase; ALT, alanine aminotrasferase; GGT, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase. *P < 0.05, CCS > 10 vs. CCS ≤ 10.
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