Insulin resistance: the link between impaired glucose tolerance, body mass index and plasma lipids

Body mass index defined as weight (Kg)/height (cm2) and plasma lipids (total lipids-TL, triglycerides-TG and cholesterol-CH) were determined in 131 patients (61 males and 70 females aged between 21 and 63 years) with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) defined according to WHO criteria. Blood glucose (BG) values and plasma insulin (PI) levels (radioimmunological assay) were determined during 2 hours OGTT with samples obtained before and after 1 h and 2 h after the intake of 75 g glucose. The sum of blood glucose and plasma insulin levels (0 + 1h + 2h) were compared in each of the following 5 groups of subjects: A--25 cases with IGT but without obesity (BMI: 23.2 +/- 2.6) and hyperlipidaemia (PL: 627 +/- 112; TG: 102 +/- 109 and CH: 208 +/- 35 mg/dl); B--35 cases with IGT and obesity (BMI: 31.2 +/- 2.6) but without hyperlipidaemia (PL: 807 +/- 109; TG: 136 +/- 31 and CH: 254 +/- 41 mg/dl); C--23 cases with IGT and hyperlipidaemia (PL: 1013 +/- 217; TG: 214 +/- 85 and CH: 311 +/- 52 mg/dl) but without obesity (BMI: 25.4 +/- 1.9); D--48 cases with IGT and both obesity (BMI: 30.9 +/- 2.8) and hyperlipidaemia (PL: 1457 +/- 155; TG: 597 +/- 188 and CH: 483 +/- 184 mg/dl); a control group of 49 cases without IGT, obesity (BMI: 26.2 +/- 1.9) or hyperlipidaemia (PL: 726 +/- 99 mg/dl).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)