[Vascular endothelial function and plasma free fatty acids in the high-risk population of type 2 diabetes]

To study the vascular endothelial function and the level of plasma free fatty acids (FFA) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), their first degree relatives (FDRs) with normal glucose tolerance and subjects with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and to compare these with health control.

Endothelial-dependent vasodilation (EDV), plasma level of FFA, and insulin active index (IAI) were measured in 36 controls with normal glucose tolerance (16 men and 20 women), 57 FDRs (27 men and 30 women), 59 subjects with IGT (25 men and 34 women) and 35 patients with T2DM (15 men and 20 women).

EDV was lower in FDRs, IGT and T2DM than that in the controls [FDRs (5.03+/-0.34)%, IGT (3.09+/-0.28)%, T2DM (2.62+/-0.29)%, controls (12.45+/-3.37)%]. The plasma level of FFA was higher in FDRs, IGT and T2DM than that in the controls [FDRs (0.52+/-0.08) mmol/L, IGT (0.52+/-0.12) mmol/L, T2DM (0.59+/-0.23) mmol/L, controls (0.46+/-0.18) mmol/L], IAI was lower in FDRs, IGT and T2DM than that in the controls (FDRs -4.20+/-0.38, IGT -4.41+/-0.72, T2DM -4.65+/-0.64, controls -3.79+/-0.57), P<0.05.

There are decreased IAI, impaired endothelial function and increased plasma level of FFA in the FDRs with normal glucose tolerance, subjects with IGT and patients with T2DM.