Hypertriglyceridemia and low HDL cholesterol in Japanese patients with NIDDM

Diabetes is frequently associated with the combination of hypertriglyceridemia and low HDL cholesterol level, a known risk factor for cardiovascular disease. We evaluated the frequency of elevated serum triglyceride and the reduced HDL cholesterol levels in Japanese male NIDDM patients. Hypertriglyceridemia (>1.69 mmol/l) and low HDL cholesterol level (<0.91 mmol/l) were frequently found in Japanese male (NIDDM patients (30.4 and 14.2%, respectively). The combined abnormality, i.e., hypertriglyceridemia with concomitant low HDL cholesterol level, was more common in patients with poor glycemic control. We observed that inpatient diet therapy markedly reduced serum triglyceride but serum HDL cholesterol did not change significantly. This is in marked contrast to primary hypertriglyceridemia, in which HDL cholesterol level generally increases in parallel with a reduction in serum triglyceride level. We discuss the defective removal of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins and ineffective HDL production caused by lipoprotein lipase (LPL) deficiency. We also discuss possible correction of this combined abnormality by certain maneuvers that increase LPL activity.