Predominance of large low density lipoprotein particles and lower fractional esterification rate of cholesterol in high density lipoprotein in children with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.
Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a major cause of death in patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Qualitative changes in low density lipoprotein (LDL) and high density lipoprotein (HDL) are thought to be important for evaluating the risk for CAD. In the present study, we evaluated LDL particle size (LDL-size) by 2%-16% gradient gel electrophoresis, along with conventional lipids and apolipoproteins, in 23 children with IDDM (10 males and 13 females) and 27 nondiabetic controls (12 males and 15 females). The fractional and molar esterification rates (FER and MER) of cholesterol in plasma and HDL were also determined. Plasma levels of triglyceride were significantly lower in diabetic children than in controls. Plasma apoA-I and apoA-II levels in female diabetic children were significantly higher and lower than those in controls respectively. Plasma levels of HDL-cholesterol and the ratio of apoA-I to apoA-II were significantly higher in diabetic children than in controls. Other lipid and apolipoprotein parameters in diabetic children were similar to those in controls. LDL-size in diabetic children was significantly greater than that in controls. FERHDL, which reflects the particle size distribution of HDL, was significantly lower in diabetic children than in controls, which suggests that diabetic children had larger HDL particles.


CONCLUSIONS
The qualitative and quantitative changes in LDL and HDL in diabetic children are similar to those associated with a reduced risk for CAD. Intensive insulin therapy in children may help preventing coronary heart disease in adulthood.
Ohta
T
T
Department of Paediatrics, Kumamoto University School of Medicine, Japan.
Nishiyama
S
S
Nakamura
T
T
Saku
K
K
Maung
K K
KK
Matsuda
I
I
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002788:Cholesterol Esters / Q000097:blood*; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000097:blood; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000097:blood*; D003925:Diabetic Angiopathies / Q000097:blood; D004951:Esterification; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL / Q000097:blood*; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D010316:Particle Size; D012307:Risk Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014461:Ultracentrifugation
D002788:Cholesterol Esters; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D014280:Triglycerides