By David Liu, PHD

Tuesday Oct 16, 2012 (foodconsumer.org) -- High lipoprotein (a) is associated with increased risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) and stroke, but a new study now suggests that high lipoprotein (a) is also linked with elevated risk for peripheral artery disease (PAD).

D. Gurdasani at Institute of Public Health, University of Cambridge in Cambridge, United Kingdom and colleagues conducted the prospective cohort study and found lipoprotein (a) was associated with both peripheral artery disease and coronary artery disease.

The study published in Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, Vascular Biology was based on data from apparently health participants in the European Prospective Investigation of Cancer (EPIC)-Norfolk cohort.  During 212,981 person-years, 2365 cases of coronary artery disease, 284 cases of ischemic stroke and 596 cases of peripheral artery disease were identified.

The researchers found lipoprotein (a) was associated with outcomes of peripheral artery disease and coronary artery disease, but not that of ischemic stroke.  

Those with high lipoprotein(a) (2.7 fold higher) were 37 percent more likely to develop peripheral artery disease, 13 percent more likely to suffer coronary artery disease and 9 percent less likely to experience ischemic stroke, compared with those who had low lipoprotein (a).

Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels did not affect these associations.

The researchers concluded "Lp(a) (lipoprotein (a) levels were associated with future PAD and CAD events. The association between Lp(a) and cardiovascular disease was not modified by low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels."

Lipoprotein (a) is considered a risk factor for heart disease and it can be tested.