Lipid and lipoprotein patterns in type 2 non-obese diabetic patients. Do Lp(a) levels decrease with improved glycemic control in these patients?

BACKGROUND AND AIM

In this study, we investigated the levels of apolipopotein-AI (apo-AI), apolipoprotein (apo-B), triglyceride (TG), high-density-lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density-lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), total cholesterol, lipoprotein(a) in a group of non-obese, type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with different types of treatment and a control group of non-obese, non-diabetic subjects.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Patients were divided into three groups according to their treatment types: insulin, sulphonylurea and untreated groups. All groups were similar in sex, weights, known duration of diabetes and habits. Each group consisted of 30 subjects. There were no differences in apo-AI, apo-B and TG levels (p > 0.05), whereas HDL-C levels in the untreated group were significantly lower than those of the other groups (p < 0.05). Lp(a) levels in the untreated group were higher than in the other (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Gaining metabolic control in diabetes mellitus is crucial in pulling back lipid, lipoprotein and apolipoprotein levels to a desired level and in attenuating CAD (coronary artery disease) risk factors, and also in preventing CAD. Lp(a) levels in particular are decreased by insulin or sulfonylurea in non-obese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.