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Updated: Aug 6, 2025
11:10
Hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic Clamps in Conscious, Unrestrained Mice
Published on: November 16, 2011
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Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels are associated with first-phase insulin release
Chiara M A Cefalo1, Elena Succurro2, Alessia Riccio1
1Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, University of Rome-Sapienza, Rome, Italy.
Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice
|March 20, 2023
Summary
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol positively influences insulin secretion, potentially explaining why statins, which lower LDL, may impair glycemic control. This study examined LDL levels and insulin function in relatives of type 2 diabetes patients.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Metabolic Syndrome
- Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors
Background:
- Statins lower LDL cholesterol, reducing cardiovascular events but increasing type 2 diabetes risk.
- The mechanism linking LDL cholesterol to diabetes risk, particularly concerning insulin dynamics, remains incompletely understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between LDL cholesterol levels and insulin sensitivity and secretion.
- To explore the relationship in a cohort of adult first-degree relatives of type 2 diabetes patients.
Main Methods:
- Insulin sensitivity assessed via euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp.
- First-phase insulin secretion measured using intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT) and oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT).
Main Results:
- LDL cholesterol was not independently linked to insulin-stimulated glucose disposal.
- Higher LDL cholesterol showed a positive association with acute insulin response (AIR) and OGTT-derived first-phase insulin secretion.
- Adjusted beta-cell function, assessed by the disposition index, was significantly associated with LDL cholesterol levels.
Conclusions:
- LDL cholesterol appears to positively modulate insulin secretion.
- Reduced insulin secretion due to cholesterol-lowering effects may contribute to glycemic deterioration observed with statin use.
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