Serum Lipids and Lipoproteins in Newly Diagnosed Non-insulin-dependent (Type II) Diabetic Patients, with Special Reference to Factors Influencing HDL-Cholesterol and Triglyceride Levels

Abstract

Serum and lipoprotein lipids were examined in 133 newly diagnosed (type II) diabetic patients (70 men, 63 women), aged 45-64 yr, and in 144 randomly selected nondiabetic control subjects of similar age (62 men, 82 women). The serum total cholesterol levels in diabetic and nondiabetic subjects were similar, but the HDL-cholesterol levels were lower and the serum total triglyceride levels higher in the diabetic than in nondiabetic subjects. No significant differences were found in apoprotein A-I and A-II levels between the diabetic and nondiabetic subjects. After adjustment for age, alcohol intake, obesity, 2-h postglucose serum insulin, and serum triglycerides, male diabetic subjects still had lower HDL-cholesterol levels than corresponding nondiabetic subjects. On the other hand, female diabetic subjects had higher serum triglycerides than their nondiabetic counterparts, even after adjustment for age, alcohol intake, 2-h postglucose serum insulin, and obesity.