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Plasma apolipoprotein C-III levels in children with type I diabetes
P Blackett1, D C Sarale, J Fesmire
1Department of Pediatrics, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City 73190.
Insights
Children with type 1 diabetes show higher apolipoprotein C-III levels, which correlate with glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1) and cholesterol. This suggests apolipoprotein C-III may help identify early atherosclerotic risk in diabetic children.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Metabolic Research
- Pediatric Diabetes
Background:
- Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is associated with dyslipidemia and increased cardiovascular risk.
- Apolipoprotein C-III (Apo C-III) is implicated in triglyceride metabolism and may contribute to atherosclerosis.
- Glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1) reflects long-term glycemic control in diabetic patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate serum apolipoprotein levels (Apo C-III, Apo B, Apo A-I) in children with T1DM.
- To determine correlations between apolipoprotein levels, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1), and lipid profiles (triglycerides, total cholesterol).
- To compare apolipoprotein levels in diabetic children with those in a healthy control group.
Main Methods:
- Serum concentrations of apolipoproteins C-III, B, and A-I were measured in 95 children with T1DM.
- Lipid profiles (triglycerides, total cholesterol) and HbA1 levels were assessed.
- Diabetic children were categorized into clinic and summer camp groups; comparisons were made with normal subjects.
Main Results:
- Apo C-III levels were significantly higher in both diabetic groups compared to normal subjects (P < .01).
- HbA1 correlated positively with Apo C-III (P < .001) and total cholesterol (P < .001) in the clinic group.
- No significant correlation was found between HbA1 and Apo A-I or triglyceride levels in either diabetic group.
Conclusions:
- Children with T1DM exhibit elevated serum Apo C-III levels, irrespective of triglyceride levels.
- Apo C-III levels correlate with glycemic control (HbA1) and total cholesterol in T1DM.
- Apo C-III may serve as a valuable biomarker for early detection of atherosclerotic risk in pediatric T1DM patients.
Abstract:
The serum concentrations of apolipoproteins C-III, B, and A-I were determined in children with type I diabetes mellitus to establish whether they correlated with the level of glycosylated hemoglobin (Hb A1) and to determine whether these values differ between diabetic children and a population of normal children. Triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), and apolipoprotein (Apo) levels were studied in 95 children with type I diabetes; 51 of the children were attending a diabetes clinic and 44 were attending a diabetes summer camp. The level of Hb A1 correlated with Apo C-III (P less than .001) and TC (P less than .001) values in the clinic group, but not with Apo A-I or TG levels in either group. The Apo C-III level was higher in both groups of diabetic children (8.0 +/- 0.5 and 9.5 +/- 0.4 mg/dl) (P less than .01) than in normal subjects (6.1 +/- 0.2 mg/dl). We conclude that the Apo C-III level tends to be higher in diabetics than in normal subjects, even in the normotriglyceridemic camp group. The Apo C-III level correlated with both the TC level and Hb A1, suggesting that Apo C-III determinations in type I diabetic patients may permit early identification of atherosclerotic risk.