STUDIES IN HYPERTRIGLYCERIDEMIA .3. GLUCOSE-TOLERANCE, INSULIN SENSITIVITY AND INDEXES OF ADIPOSE-TISSUE LIPOLYSIS IN RANDOMLY SELECTED NONDIABETIC HYPERTRIGLYCERIDEMIC SWEDISH MEN

Hypertriglyceridaemia, insulin resistance and glucose intolerance are conditions associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease . In this study we have examined randomly selected nondiabetic hypertr iglyceridaemic (HTG) males, 40-50 years (n = 65) and age-matched normo triglyceridaemic (NTG) controls (n = 61). The (mean +/- SD) insulin se nsitivity index, as assessed by the Minimal Model method, was signific antly lower in the HTG compared with the NTG group (3.69 +/- 2.96 vs. 6.29 +/- 3.38 x 10(-4)min(-1) per mUL(-1) P<0.001). Thirty-eight per c ent of the HTG group was glucose intolerant, compared with 8% in the N TG group (X(2) = 13.16; P < 0.001). The glucose intolerant HTG sub-gro up had, when compared with the glucose tolerant one, significantly hig her serum concentrations of apoB (1318 +/- 284 vs. 1094 +/- 312 mgL(-1 ) P < 0.01) and glycerol (84 +/- 26 vs. 65 +/- 22 nmol L(-1) P < 0.01) . Serum FFA concentrations were, irrespective of glucose tolerance/int olerance, higher in the HTG than in the NTG group. By logistic regress ion analysis with the HTG/NTG state as the dichotomous variable, it wa s found that neither a low insulin sensitivity, nor glucose intoleranc e were independently linked with the HTG state. Instead, the lower ins ulin sensitivity of the HTG group was related to their higher body mas s index. The higher frequency of glucose intolerance in the HTG group was explained by their higher mean serum apoB concentration, when comp ared with the NTG group. In conclusion, this study of a randomly selec ted HTG group has confirmed the frequent coexistence of HTG, insulin r esistance and glucose intolerance. The new important finding was that neither of these two latter conditions appear to be of direct pathogen etic importance for HTG.