Gender-Related Differences of Oxidized Low-Density Lipoprotein Levels in Adults with and without Type 2 Diabetes

Objective We aimed to evaluate potential gender differences in serum levels of oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and controls. We looked at the correlation between ox-LDL levels and 10-year cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk using Framingham risk score. Materials and Methods A total of 454 (268 women) patients with T2D and 140 (107 women) participants without T2D were recruited for this study. Ox-LDL, lipid profile, glycemic indices, anthropometric measurements, and 10-year CVD risk score were compared among the subgroups. Results In participants without T2D, women had lower levels of ox-LDL in comparison with men (33.94±6.48 U/L vs. 59.54±14.36 U/L; adjusted odds ratio (OR) of 0.968 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.947-0.990). However, in participants with T2D, oxLDL levels were higher in women compared to men (92.11±38.07 U/L vs. 79.18±34.63 U/L; adjusted OR of 1.008 (95%CI, 1.001-1.014). In addition, in female participants without T2D, ox-LDL levels in post-menopausal women were higher than the pre-menopausal ones (38.48±6.48 U/L vs. 29.66±5.16 U/L; adjusted OR of 1.036 (95%CI, 1.005-1.068). In contrast, this difference disappeared in female participants with T2D (92.08±39.40 U/L vs. 91.38±34.73 U/L; adjusted OR of 0.999 (95%CI, 0.994-1.024). Moreover, after controlling for potential confounders, the 10-year CVD risk score had a significant association with ox-LDL levels in men without T2D (R=0.899, p ≤0.001), women without T2D (R=0.318, p=0.012), men with T2D (R= 0.446, p=0.003) and women with T2D (R= 0.298, p=0.001). Conclusions Participants with T2D had higher levels of ox-LDL compared to the controls. Moreover, among participants with T2D, the levels of ox-LDL increased more adversely in women than men. T2D may override the effect of gender and menopausal status on ox-LDL.