THE EFFECT OF ACUTE HYPERINSULINEMIA ON PLASMA CHOLESTERYL ESTER TRANSFER PROTEIN-ACTIVITY IN PATIENTS WITH NON-INSULIN-DEPENDENT DIABETES-MELLITUS AND HEALTHY-SUBJECTS

The effect of acute hyperinsulinemia on plasma cholesteryl ester (CE) transfer protein (CETP) activity was determined in 11 patients with no n-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) and 10 healthy subjects. Plasma CETP activity was reduced significantly in NIDDM patients (-37 +/- 59 nmol/mL/h, P < .05) but not in healthy subjects (-7 +/- 37 nmo l/mL/h) during insulin infusion. Saline infusion did not alter plasma CETP activity significantly. The change in plasma CETP activity was co rrelated significantly with the baseline plasma triglyceride (TG) conc entration (r = -.523, n = 21, P = .01) and marginally with the concomi tant decrease in these levels with acute hyperinsulinemia (r = .413, n = 21, P = .06) in NIDDM patients and healthy subjects combined. These data indicate that acute hyperinsulinemia reduces plasma CETP activit y and probably plasma CETP concentration in NIDDM patients, and sugges t coordinated regulation of CETP levels and TG metabolism by insulin. Copyright (C) 1994 by W.B. Saunders Company