DIFFERENCES IN POSTPRANDIAL LIPEMIA BETWEEN PATIENTS WITH NORMAL GLUCOSE-TOLERANCE AND NONINSULIN-DEPENDENT DIABETES-MELLITUS

In this paper we have compared the postprandial increase in triglyceri de (TG) rich lipoproteins of intestinal origin in 10 patients with non insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) and 10 subjects with norma l glucose tolerance. The two groups were matched for age, sex distribu tion, body mass index, and plasma TG concentration. Breakfast was cons umed at 0800 h and lunch at 1200 h, at which time vitamin A was also a dministered. Blood was sampled frequently from 1200 h to 2400 h, and m easurements made of glucose, insulin, and TG concentrations. Furthermo re, the retinyl palmitate (RP) content of plasma, the Sf > 400 lipopro tein fraction, and the Sf 20-400 lipoprotein fraction was also determi ned, and differences compared by two-way analysis of variance. Fasting and postprandial (from 1200 h to 2400 h) TG concentrations in the pla sma and the two lipoprotein fractions were not significantly different in normal subjects and patients with NIDDM. In addition, the postpran dial RP concentration of the two groups was not different in the chylo micron containing Sf > 400 lipoprotein fraction. However, the postpran dial Sf 20-400 RP concentration was significantly higher (P < 0.001) i n patients with NIDDM, estimated as hourly values over time, peak valu e, or total integrated response area. Significant correlation coeffici ents (r = 0.60-0.75, P < 0.08 < 0.02) were seen in patients with NIDDM between the total integrated insulin response and both the TG and RP responses in the Sf > 400 and Sf 20-400 fractions. In addition, fastin g high density lipoprotein-cholesterol concentration in patients with NIDDM was significantly correlated with the postprandial TG response i n the Sf > 400 (r = -0.64, P < 0.05) and the Sf 20-400 (r = -0.68, P < 0.05) lipoprotein fractions. In summary, the postprandial RP concentr ation in the Sf 20-400 lipoprotein fraction was higher than normal in patients with NIDDM. In addition, associations have been defined in pa tients with NIDDM between postprandial insulin response, fasting TG an d high density lipoprotein-cholesterol concentrations, and magnitude o f postprandial increase in TG-rich lipoproteins of intestinal origin.