Influence of plasma triglycerides on lipoprotein patterns in normal subjects and in patients with coronary artery disease.

This study examined the correlation of plasma triglyceride levels with concentrations of intermediate, low and high density lipoproteins (IDL, LDL, and HDL, respectively) and to particle sizes of LDL in 93 normal men and 106 men with coronary artery disease. Plasma triglyceride concentrations were in the normal range for all persons in both groups. Analysis of lipoproteins of density less than 1.063 g/ml was carried out by analytical ultracentrifugation. The analytical pattern gave the peak Sf for LDL as well as an indication of heterogeneity of particle sizes in the density range of LDL. In both normal subjects and patients with coronary artery disease, a positive correlation was found between peak Sf for LDL and concentrations of plasma triglycerides. Plasma triglyceride levels also were correlated positively with concentrations of Sf 20 to 60 lipoproteins and total IDL mass, and inversely with HDL cholesterol levels. Furthermore, the value for peak Sf for LDL correlated inversely with the IDL mass concentration and IDL/LDL mass ratio, and positively with the HDL cholesterol levels. The results indicate that the lipoprotein pattern, including lipoprotein concentrations and particle sizes, is sensitive to concentrations of plasma triglycerides even when the latter are within the normal range.