title: Plasma non-cholesterol sterols in patients with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus.
abstract: Plasma plant sterol concentrations (an index of cholesterol absorption efficiency) and plasma lathosterol concentration (an index of cholesterol synthesis rate) were measured in 52 patients with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) and 36 non-diabetic controls. Plasma plant sterol concentrations were significantly (P less than 0.01) lower in diabetic patients (campesterol: men -36%, women -48%; betasitosterol: men -35%, women -42%). Fasting serum insulin levels were inversely correlated with plasma plant sterol concentrations in diabetic patients (campesterol: r = -0.347, P = 0.012; betasitosterol: r = -0.345, P = 0.012) and in non-diabetic men (campesterol: r = -0.578, P = 0.039; betasitosterol: r = -0.702, P = 0.008). Serum insulin levels were also correlated significantly with plasma lathosterol concentration in diabetic patients (r = 0.295, P = 0.034). The results of this study suggest that absorption of plant sterols and possibly cholesterol from the diet may be reduced in hyperinsulinemic diabetics.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Otago Medical School, Dunedin, New Zealand.
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Sutherland
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Lintott
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Robertson
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Stapely
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cox
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010840:Phytosterols / Q000097:blood*; D012855:Sitosterols / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin; D010840:Phytosterols; D012855:Sitosterols; C021273:campesterol; C025473:gamma-sitosterol; C001521:lathosterol; D002784:Cholesterol