Relation of plasma lipids to insulin resistance, nonesterified fatty acid levels, and body fat in men from three ethnic groups: Relevance to variation in risk of diabetes and coronary disease
R. Zoratti et al., Relation of plasma lipids to insulin resistance, nonesterified fatty acid levels, and body fat in men from three ethnic groups: Relevance to variation in risk of diabetes and coronary disease, METABOLISM, 49(2), 2000, pp. 245-252
Afro-Caribbean men in the United Kingdom have a favorable lipoprotein profi
le and are at low risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) compared with Europe
ans and South Asians, but are at high risk of non-insulin-dependent diabete
s mellitus (NIDDM) compared with Europeans. To investigate these difference
s, a cross-sectional comparison was undertaken for measures of lipoprotein
metabolism, body composition, and insulin's glucoregulatory and antilipolyt
ic actions in 92 healthy men (42 to 61 years) of Afro-Caribbean, South Asia
n, or European origin. Afro-Caribbean men were more insulin-resistant than
Europeans (insulin sensitivity [S-1], 1.96 v3.01 min(-1) mu U-1 mt, P < ,01
), They nevertheless had a more favorable lipoprotein profile, with lower l
evels of very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol (0.21 v 0.40 mmol/
L, P < .01) and triglycerides (0.34 v 0.74 mmol/L, P < .01), lower serum to
tal triglycerides, higher high-density lipoprotein 2 (HDL2) cholesterol, an
d larger low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particle size. These differences wer
e not accounted for by differences in nonesterified fatty acid (NEFA) level
s, the sensitivity of suppression of NEFA levels to insulin, or body compos
ition. South Asians were also more insulin-resistant than Europeans but had
a less favorable lipoprotein profile. Afro-Caribbean men in the United Kin
gdom are as insulin-resistant as South Asian men but less susceptible to th
e lipid disturbances that characteristically accompany insulin resistance.
This favorable lipid pattern may relate to more effective VLDL metabolism r
ather than a reduced supply of NEFA as substrate for triglyceride synthesis
. Copyright (C) 2000 by W.B. Saunders Company.