Post-prandial triglyceride profile in a population-based sample of Type 2 diabetic patients.
OBJECTIVE
Postprandial lipaemia is considered an emerging risk factor for cardiovascular disease also in the Type 2 diabetic population. However, little information exists on the daily triglyceride profile of these patients, especially during everyday life. The aim of the study was to evaluate the daily triglyceride profile of Type 2 diabetic patients during their everyday life.


METHODS
145 Type 2 diabetic patients (66 men/79 women, age range 45-65 years) at a health district near Naples, Italy, participating in a screening survey for the evaluation of diabetic complications, and 30 non-diabetic subjects of the same area underwent four daily capillary triglyceride profiles by Accutrend (Roche)-a previously validated method.


RESULTS
Triglyceride values (mmol/l; Means +/- SE) were 2.22+/-0.08 at fasting, decreased before lunch (2.03+/-0.07), reached a peak 3 h after lunch (2.73+/-0.09) and remained substantially high before dinner (2.47+/-0.09) (all p<0.001 vs fasting). The triglyceride profile of non-diabetic subjects was significantly lower at each point (average difference of 0.73 mmol/l). The percentage of patients with values above 2.25 mmol/l was 61% 3 h after lunch and 49% before dinner. Moreover, in 30% of patients with optimal fasting values (<1.69 mmol/l) triglyceride concentrations 3 h after lunch ranged between 1.69 and 2.25 mmol/l, and in 31% they were above 2.25 mmol/l.


CONCLUSIONS
Most Type 2 diabetic patients have postprandial triglycerides above optimal concentrations for several hours after meals. Moreover, optimal fasting concentrations are not always a good predictor of postprandial triglycerides.
Iovine
C
C
Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Federico II University, Via S. Pansini 5, 80131 Napoli, Italy.
Vaccaro
O
O
Gentile
A
A
Romano
G
G
Pisanti
F
F
Riccardi
G
G
Rivellese
A A
AA
D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood*; D005215:Fasting; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019518:Postprandial Period; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012307:Risk Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood*
D002784:Cholesterol; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D014280:Triglycerides