Reference intervals for plasma apolipoprotein B determined with a standardized commercial immunoturbidimetric assay: results from the Framingham Offspring Study.
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Cross-sectional analysis establishing reference ranges and disease association within a cohort
What was done
Researchers evaluated a standardized commercial immunoturbidimetric assay for apolipoprotein (apo) B to define reference ranges and assess associations with coronary heart disease (CHD). Plasma apo B was measured in 1,880 men and 1,944 women participating in cycle 4 of the Framingham Offspring Study.
What was found
The between-run CV for assaying a normal-concentration control was 6.60%. Mean (±SD) apo B concentration was 1.03 ± 0.24 g/L in men and 0.96 ± 0.26 g/L in women (P < 0.001). An apo B value of 1.20 g/L corresponded roughly to the 75th percentile in men (similar to an LDL cholesterol of 1.60 g/L). Subjects with apo B >1.20 g/L were significantly more likely to have CHD than subjects with apo B <1.00 g/L (the approximate 50th percentile) in both men (P < 0.05) and women (P < 0.001).
Why it matters
This study provides standardized reference intervals and percentile cutpoints for plasma apo B in a large community cohort, supporting apo B as a clinically measurable marker associated with coronary heart disease.
Limits
The analysis is cross-sectional from a single cycle rather than prospective, and odds ratios, relative risks, or multivariable adjustments are not reported in the abstract. The cohort represents a predominantly white, single-region population, limiting generalizability across diverse demographics.
Cited by
- supports An ApoB level of 80 mg/dL corresponds to roughly the 20th percentile in standard population reference distributions.