Differences in plasma levels of long chain and very long chain ceramides between African Americans and whites: An observational study

Population-wide reductions in cardiovascular disease (CVD) have not been equally shared in the African American community due to a higher burden of CVD risk factors such as metabolic disorders and obesity. Differential concentrations of sphingolipids such as ceramide, sphingosine, and sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) has been associated with the development of CVD, metabolic disorders (MetD), and obesity. Whether African Americans have disparate expression levels of sphingolipids that explain higher burdens of CVD remains unknown. A cross sectional analysis of plasma concentrations of ceramides, sphingosine, and S1P were measured from 8 whites and 7 African Americans without metabolic disorders and 7 whites and 8 African Americans with metabolic disorders using high performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry methodology (HPLC/MS-MS). Subjects were stratified by both race and metabolic status. Subjects with one or more of the following physician confirmed diagnosis: diabetes, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, or dyslipidemia were classified as having metabolic disease (MetD). Data was analyzed using a Two-Way ANOVA and Tukey's post hoc test. Total ceramide levels were increased in African Americans compared to African Americans with MetD. Ceramide C16 levels were higher in whites with MetD compared to African Americans with MetD (p