M. Cassader et al., APOLIPOPROTEIN-H LEVELS IN DIABETIC SUBJECTS - CORRELATION WITH CHOLESTEROL LEVELS, Metabolism, clinical and experimental, 46(5), 1997, pp. 522-525
To assess the relationship between apolipoprotein H (apo H) plasma lev
els and lipid metabolism in diabetes mellitus, we have examined the co
rrelation between apa H plasma concentration and the main plasma lipid
levels in 127 non-insulin-dependent (NIDDM) and 118 insulin-dependent
(IDDM) diabetes mellitus patients. The data are compared with those i
n 286 nondiabetics. our data show a significant increase in plasma apo
H in diabetic as opposed to nondiabetic subjects (NIDDM, 29.9 +/- 10.
8 mg/dL; IDDM, 31.3 +/- 9.9; controls, 22.5 +/- 7.7; F = 53.3, P=.0001
). The relation between plasma lipids and apo H was simultaneously eva
luated in the three groups with inclusion of diabetes, sex, body mass
index (IBM)), and age as covariates in the model. This analysis showed
a strong positive correlation (P=.0009) between apo H and total chole
sterol, and a weaker positive correlation with triglycerides ([TGs] P=
.016]. The correlation between apo-H and hemoglobin A(1c) (HbA(1c)) le
vels in diabetics (P=.03) highlights the importance of glycemic contro
l for plasma levels of this apoprotein, which is highly glycated. Alth
ough the role of apo H in lipid metabolism is still uncertain, recent
investigations on the possible relation between plasma apo H levels an
d increased plasma lipids and thrombotic risk could explain the increa
sed atherosclerotic risk in diabetic patients. Copyright (C) 1997 by W
.B. Saunders Company .