Adipocyte triglyceride turnover is independently associated with atherogenic dyslipidemia

Inappropriate storage of fatty acids as triglycerides in adipocytes and their removal from adipocytes through lipolysis and subsequent oxidation may cause the atherogenic dyslipidemia phenotype of elevated apolipoprotein B levels and subsequent hypertriglyceridemia. We tested whether turnover of triglycerides in fat cells was related to dyslipidemia.

The age of triglycerides (reflecting removal) and triglyceride storage in adipocytes was determined under free living conditions by measuring incorporation of atmospheric (14)C into these lipids within the adipocytes in 47 women and 26 men with a large interindividual variability in body mass index. Because limited (14)C data were available, triglyceride age was also determined in 97 men and 233 women by using an algorithm based on adipocyte lipolysis, body fat content, waist-to-hip ratio, and insulin sensitivity. This cohort consisted of nonobese subjects since obesity per se is related to all components in the algorithm. Triglyceride turnover (age and storage) was compared with plasma levels of apolipoproteins and lipids. Plasma levels of apolipoprotein B and triglycerides were positively related to triglyceride age in adipocytes, when measured directly using radiocarbon analyses (r=0.45 to 0.47; P<0.0001). This effect was independent of subject age, waist circumference measures, and insulin sensitivity (partial r=0.29 to 0.45; P from 0.03 to <0.0001). Triglyceride storage showed no independent correlation (partial r=0.02 to 0.11; P=0.42 to 0.91). Algorithm-based values for adipocyte removal of triglycerides were positively associated with plasma triglycerides and apolipoprotein B (r=0.44 to 0.45; P<0.0001) and (also positively) with the inflammation status of adipose tissue (r=0.39 to 0.47; P<0.05). These correlations were statistically independent of subject age and observed in men and women as well as in lean and overweight subjects when subgroups were examined separately.

Decreased removal of adipocyte triglycerides (as indicated by a high triglyceride age in fat cells) is independently associated with circulating apolipoprotein B and triglycerides. This suggests a hitherto unknown role of triglyceride turnover in adipocytes for the development and/or maintenance of atherogenic dyslipidemia.