GLYCATION OF LIPOPROTEINS AND ACCELERATED ATHEROSCLEROSIS IN NON-INSULIN-DEPENDENT DIABETES-MELLITUS

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.