title: Elevated plasma triglyceride levels are associated with human protoporphyria.
abstract: Six patients with protoporphyria had mildly elevated triglyceride levels (200 to 300 mg/dl) on serum chemistry screening panels. Measurement of fasting plasma lipid profiles indicated that triglyceride levels were mildly elevated in 22 patients with protoporphyria compared with the values of a age- and sex-matched population of the Lipid Research Clinics prevalence study (p = 0.021). The effect of ingestion of the retinoid precursor beta-carotene on plasma triglyceride levels was assessed in 13 of these patients, both during carotene therapy and during therapy-free intervals. There was no significant increase in plasma triglyceride levels during administration of carotene; eight of 13 patients had lower levels during therapy. There was no significant correlation between plasma triglyceride levels at p less than or equal to 0.05 and serum carotene or blood protoporphyrin levels. Our results indicate that mild hypertriglyceridemia occurs with increased frequency in patients with protoporphyria, but not as a direct result of beta-carotene therapy.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011164:Porphyrias / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D011166:Porphyrins / Q000097:blood*; D011524:Protoporphyrins / Q000097:blood*; D012621:Seasons; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood*; D019207:beta Carotene
chemical_list: D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL; D011166:Porphyrins; D011524:Protoporphyrins; D014280:Triglycerides; D019207:beta Carotene; D002338:Carotenoids; D002784:Cholesterol