POSTPRANDIAL CHANGES IN HIGH-DENSITY-LIPOPROTEIN COMPOSITION AND SUBFRACTION DISTRIBUTION ARE NOT ALTERED IN PATIENTS WITH INSULIN-DEPENDENT DIABETES-MELLITUS

A detailed analysis of postprandial changes in the size, density, comp osition; and relative proportion of the major high-density lipoprotein (HDL) subfractions, HDL(2) and HDL(3), was performed in seven normoli pidemic patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) in mo derate glycemic central anti seven age-, sex-, and weight-matched heal thy nondiabetic controls, IDDM subjects received an overnight insulin infusion to maintain euglycemia, with an incremental increase in the i nsulin infusion rate al the time of the test meal (containing 60 g fat /m(2)). Samples for detailed analysis of MDL by gradient density ultra centrifugation and nondenaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (GGE) we re collected at 0, 4, 8, and 12 hours after the test meal. The composi tion of HDL, HDL(2), and HDL(3) was significantly altered in the postp randial state in IDDM subjects and controls with an increase in trigly ceride content at 4 to 8 hours and a reciprocal decrease In cholestery l ester, reflecting exchange of lipid constituents of HDL with triglyc eride (TG)-rich lipoprotein. In addition, the phospholipid content of the particles increased at 8 hours after the meal. Peak density of HDL (2) and HDL(3) decreased slightly at 4 to 8 hours, reaching significan ce only in controls at 8 hours (P < .05), whereas the mean radius size of these subfractions did not change significantly. In controls and I DDM subjects, the ratio of HDL(3) to HDL(2) at 8 to 12 hours increased significantly (P < .005). Significant differences in the composition, size, density, or subfraction distribution of HDL between subjects wi th IDDM and controls were not observed following ingestion of the lipi d-rich meal. We conclude from these data that in patients With IDDM in moderate glycemic control, there do not appear to be any significant gross abnormalities in postprandial HDL metabolism with respect to the size, density, or compositional changes of HDL particles. Copyright ( C) 1996 by W.B. Saunders Company