Serum Lipids and Lipoproteins in Insulin‐dependent Diabetic Patients with Persistent Microalbuminuria

Abstract

Serum lipid and lipoprotein concentrations were measured in 18 insulin‐dependent diabetic patients with persistent microalbuminuria and an equal number with persistently normal albumin excretion. The groups were matched for sex, age, duration of diabetes, body mass index, insulin dose, and glycosylated haemoglobin. Diabetic patients with persistent microalbuminuria were found to have a significantly lower high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol concentration (difference 0.29,95 % Cl 0.12 to 0.46, mmol l⁻¹, p < 0.01) and a higher low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol:HDL cholesterol ratio (difference 0.97, 95% Cl 0.29 to 1.65, p < 0.01) than patients with normal albumin excretion. No significant differences were found in total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, apolipoprotein (apo) A‐***I and apo B concentrations. Compared to an age and sex‐matched group of non‐diabetic subjects with normal albumin excretion, diabetic patients with persistent microalbuminuria had significantly higher concentrations of total cholesterol (p < 0.05), LDL cholesterol (p < 0.05) and apo B (p < 0.01), but a lower concentration of HDL cholesterol (p < 0.05). No significant differences were found in serum lipids and lipoproteins between diabetic patients with normal albumin excretion and non‐diabetic subjects.