RESPONSE OF APOLIPOPROTEIN AIV AND LIPOPROTEINS TO GLYCEMIC CONTROL IN YOUNG-PEOPLE WITH INSULIN-DEPENDENT DIABETES-MELLITUS

Young people with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) (n = 104, 7 to 19 years old) were classified into groups of good (I), fair (II) , and poor (III) diabetic control and compared to 22 healthy controls of same origin and age range. Triglycerides (TG) were significantly el evated with respect to controls only in group III, and total cholester ol was increased by over 40 % (p < 0.01) mainly due to low density lip oprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C). Apolipoprotein B (apo B) was over 40 % h igher in groups II and III. TG, LDL-C, and apo B concentrations all po sitively correlated with HbA(1c) levels. Neither HDL-C nor apolipoprot ein AI (ape AI) were affected by glycaemic control, but phospholipids were increased in all three subgroups of IDDM subjects (p < 0.001). Ov er the course of 6 months' treatment, TG, apo B, and LDL-C varied in p arallel with HbA(1c), confirming a tight association with the quality of glycaemic control. Apolipoprotein AIV (ape AIV) was higher in all g roups and closely related to glycaemic control (r=+0.43, p < 0.001), i ndependent of TG or HDL. The specific and sensitive response of apo AI V to insulin deficiency suggests a direct effect at the level of intes tinal synthesis.