Serum sialic acid, a reputed cardiovascular risk factor, is elevated in South Asian men compared to European men.

Serum total sialic acid (TSA) has recently been reported as a cardiovascular risk factor, but whether there are racial differences is not known. One hundred and twenty-four healthy young subjects (62 women and 62 men) were studied. Their age was 20.7 [0.9] years and they were matched for body mass index (BMI). Sixty-eight were of South Asian origin (37 women and 31 men) and 56 (25 women and 31 men) were European. Mean (SD) serum TSA was significantly higher in the South Asian men than the age-matched European men (74.3 [12.3] mg/dL versus 68.2 [13.0] mg/dL, P = 0.0198). In addition, serum TSA was significantly higher in South Asian women compared with European men (71.6 [8.9] mg/dL versus 68.2 [13.0] mg/dL, P = 0.0352). Finally, serum TSA was significantly higher in European women compared with European men (76.0 [13.1] mg/dL versus 69.2 [13.0] mg/dL, P = 0.008). We conclude that serum TSA may be worth measuring in different racial groups and also may be useful to assess individuals at risk of cardiovascular disease. Large prospective studies may help to explain why serum TSA is a reputed cardiovascular risk factor and shows racial differences.