Insulin sensitivity and Lp(alpha) concentrations in normoglycemic offspring of type 2 diabetic parents

Offspring of at least 1 parent with type 2 diabetes are more resistant to the insulin action, exhibit higher incidence of dyslipidemia and are more prone to cardiovascular diseases. The association between Lp(alpha) and coronary heart disease is well established. An association between Lp(alpha) concentration and insulin sensitivity was examined in this study. We investigated the serum LP(alpha) in 41 offspring of 41 families of type 2 diabetic subjects (group I) with normal glucose tolerance, compared to 49 offspring who their parents had no history of type 2 diabetes, matched for sex, age, BMI, WHR and blood pressure (group II). Serum Lp(alpha), triglycerides, insulin resistant index, HDL, LDL-cholesterol and insulin were measured.

The offspring of type 2 diabetic subjects had higher fasting serum triglycerides (mean +/- SD 199.3 +/- 184.2 vs. 147.1 +/- 67.9 ng/dl, p < 0.05) lower HDL-cholesterol (37.3 +/- 9.0 vs. 44.6 +/- 7.8, p < 0.001) and particularly higher Insulin resistance Index (HOMA-IR) (2.84 +/- 1.39 vs. 1.67 +/- 0.77, p < 0.001). They also had higher serum LP(alpha) concentration (15.4 +/- 6.7 vs. 8.6 +/- 6.0, p < 0.001). By simple linear analysis in the offspring of type 2 diabetic parents there was no correlation of Lp(alpha) concentration with insulin resistance index Homa-IR (r = 0,016 p = NS).

We conclude that serum LP(alpha) is significantly increased in offspring of type 2 diabetic subjects but was not related to insulin sensitivity.