A. Yegin et al., GLYCATION OF LIPOPROTEINS AND ACCELERATED ATHEROSCLEROSIS IN NON-INSULIN-DEPENDENT DIABETES-MELLITUS, International journal of clinical & laboratory research, 25(3), 1995, pp. 157-161
We used a new and remarkably simple method to examine the extent of in
vivo lipoprotein glycation in type II diabetic patients with atherosc
lerosis and diabetic patients with no complications. Serum glycated li
poprotein levels were determined by agarose gel film electrophoresis i
n 48 non-diabetic control subjects and 39 diabetic patients, of whom 2
6 had no complications and 13 had atherosclerotic heart disease. Fasti
ng serum glucose, glycohemoglobin and serum fructosamine concentration
s (indicators of glycemia) and total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-de
nsity lipoprotein-, very low-density lipoprotein- and high-density lip
oprotein-cholesterol concentrations and the low-density lipoprotein/hi
gh-density lipoprotein ratio (serum lipid profile) were also determine
d in the control and diabetic subjects. Glycated low-density lipoprote
in and very low-density lipoprotein concentrations were significantly
increased in diabetic patients compared with controls; but only glycat
ed very low-density lipoprotein was significantly increased in atheros
clerotic patients compared with diabetics without complications. The l
ipid profile parameters were not significantly increased in patients c
ompared with controls. In diabetics, especially those with poorly cont
rolled hyperglycemia and atherosclerosis, glycation of lipoprotein fra
ctions might be more important than serum lipid and lipoprotein abnorm
alities. The significant correlation between atherosclerosis and glyca
ted very low-density lipoprotein, suggests that very low-density lipop
rotein glycation could be responsible for the development of atheroscl
erosis in diabetes.