Diabetes Metab J.  2011 Oct;35(5):536-542. 10.4093/dmj.2011.35.5.536.

Smaller Mean LDL Particle Size and Higher Proportion of Small Dense LDL in Korean Type 2 Diabetic Patients

• Suh S
• Park HD
• Kim SW
• Bae JC
• Tan AH
• Chung HS
• Hur KY
• Kim JH
• Kim KW
• Lee MK

• KMID: 1857510
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4093/dmj.2011.35.5.536

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Small dense low density lipoprotein (sdLDL) has recently emerged as an important risk factor of coronary heart disease.
METHODS
The mean LDL particle size was measured in 203 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and 212 matched subjects without diabetes using polyacrylamide tube gel electrophoresis. Major vascular complications were defined as stroke, angiographically-documented coronary artery disease or a myocardial infarction. Peripheral vascular stenosis, carotid artery stenosis (> or =50% in diameter) or carotid artery plaque were considered minor vascular complications. Overall vascular complications included both major and minor vascular complications.
RESULTS
Diabetic patients had significantly smaller mean-LDL particle size (26.32 nm vs. 26.49 nm) and a higher percentage of sdLDL to total LDL compared to those of subjects without diabetes (21.39% vs. 6.34%). The independent predictors of sdLDL in this study were serum triglyceride level and body mass index (odds ratio [OR], 1.020 with P<0.001 and OR 1.152 with P<0.027, respectively). However, no significant correlations were found between sdLDL and major vascular complications (P=0.342), minor vascular complications (P=0.573) or overall vascular complications (P=0.262) in diabetic subjects.
CONCLUSION
Diabetic patients had a smaller mean-LDL particle size and higher proportion of sdLDL compared to those of subjects without diabetes. Obese diabetic patients with hypertriglyceridemia have an increased risk for atherogenic small dense LDL. However, we could not verify an association between LDL particle size and vascular complications in this study.

Keyword

Coronary heart diseases; Diabetes mellitus; LDL particle size; Small dense low density lipoprotein

MeSH Terms

Acrylic Resins
Body Mass Index
Carotid Stenosis
Constriction, Pathologic
Coronary Artery Disease
Coronary Disease
Diabetes Mellitus
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2
Electrophoresis
Heart
Humans
Hypertriglyceridemia
Lipoproteins
Myocardial Infarction
Particle Size
Risk Factors
Stroke
Acrylic Resins
Lipoproteins

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Correlation analysis between triglycerides (TG) level and low density lipoprotein (LDL) size in the diabetic group.

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