title: Very low-density lipoprotein metabolism in an unusual case of lipoatrophic diabetes.
abstract: Complete acquired lipoatrophic diabetes (LD) is characterized by nonketotic insulin-resistant diabetes, elevated very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) triglyceride (TG) levels, and absent subcutaneous fat. We studied a young child in whom LD atypically developed after the onset of type 1 diabetes mellitus. On uncontrolled home diet the patient had triglyceride levels over 1,000 mg/dL on multiple occasions. In order to demonstrate the effects of caloric and dietary-fat restriction on VLDL metabolism, 3H-glycerol and autologous 125I-VLDL were used to quantitate the turnover of VLDL-TG and VLDL-apolipoprotein B (apo B) during two periods of caloric restriction. Consumption of a 900-kcal 40-g fat diet resulted in a plasma triglyceride level of 1383 mg/dL (ten-fold elevation). This hypertriglyceridemia was associated with markedly increased production rates of both VLDL-TG (73.7 mg/kg/h) and VLDL-apo B (126.9 mg/kg/d). Consumption of a 900-kcal 25-g fat diet resulted in a plasma TG level of 663 mg/dL. This reduction in plasma TG was associated with a 40% decrease in VLDL-TG production rate (PR) (45.1 mg/kg/h). There was no change in the production rate (PR) of VLDL-apo B. The hypertriglyceridemia in this patient was due to marked over production of VLDL. Furthermore, the studies demonstrate: (1) the independent benefits of caloric and dietary-fat restriction in the treatment of LD, and (2) that fat restriction lowered plasma triglyceride by its effect on the VLDL-TG production rate.
mesh_terms: D001053:Apolipoproteins / Q000097:blood; D001055:Apolipoproteins B; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003923:Diabetes Mellitus, Lipoatrophic / Q000097:blood* / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008079:Lipoproteins, VLDL / Q000097:blood*; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D001053:Apolipoproteins; D001055:Apolipoproteins B; D007328:Insulin; D008079:Lipoproteins, VLDL; D014280:Triglycerides; C030106:very low density lipoprotein triglyceride; D002784:Cholesterol