Detection and characterization of hyperlipoproteinaemia in middle-aged men

Serum lipoprotein (LP) concentrations were determined and LP patterns were classified in 261 middle-aged men, recruited from a health examination survey, with serum lipid values above the 80th percentile of the same population. Individuals with hyperlipoproteinaemia (HLP) and normolipidaemic controls were characterized also regarding family history of cardiovascular disease, socio-economic factors and clinical and laboratory variables. Subjects with HLP type IV-V and IIB were overweight and showed hyperuricaemia and hyperinsulinaemia compared with normolipidaemic controls and subjects with HLP type IIA. The latter showed elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate. In spite of being overweight, subjects with HLP type III showed normal fasting values of insulin and uric acid in serum and normal early insulin response to intravenous glucose. The glucose tolerance did not differ significantly between the groups. Men with HLP types IV-V had predominantly sedentary occupations, in contrast to those with type IIA. There were significantly more smokers in the groups with HLP type IIB and IV-V than in the control group. Thus, individuals with different types of HLP tend to show different metabolic profiles but also different socioeconomic and clinical patterns, suggesting that exogenous factors are of importance in the expression of the LP abnormalities.