CIRCULATING LIPIDS AND CARDIOVASCULAR RISK IN NEWLY-DIAGNOSED NON-INSULIN-DEPENDENT DIABETIC SUBJECTS IN INDIA

Circulating concentrations of total cholesterol, triglycerides, non-es terified fatty acids (NEFA), glycerol, and 3-hydroxybutyrate (3-HB) we re measured in 133 subjects with normal glucose tolerance (NGT), 78 wi th impaired-glucose-tolerance (IGT) and 189 noninsulin dependent (Type 2) diabetic (NIDDM) patients. Plasma cholesterol concentration was si milar in the three groups; NGT (4.2 (2.3-7.5) mmol l(-1), median (rang e)), IGT (4.7 (2.7-6.3)) and NIDDM (4.3 (2.3-6.9)). Plasma triglycerid es (NGT 0.88 (0.37-2.80), IGT 1.26 (0.43-3.82) and NIDDM 1.38 (0.62-3. 91) mmol l(-1)) and NEFA (NGT 0.81 (0.291-1.58), IGT 1.02 (0.33-1.87) and NIDDM 1.02 (0.48-2.77) mmol l(-1)) were higher in the two hypergly caemic groups, but blood 3-HB concentration was similar in the three g roups. Plasma cholesterol concentration in these subjects is lower tha n that reported in white Caucasians in the UK and USA and migrant Indi an NIDDM patients in the UK. In NIDDM patients plasma cholesterol conc entration was related to age, body mass index (BMI), and plasma glucos e concentration while plasma triglyceride concentration was related to plasma NEFA and insulin (IRI) concentration. Evidence of ischaemia on electrocardiography in patients with diabetes was associated with hig her age, blood pressure, plasma triglyceride, glucose, and IRI concent rations. (C) 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.