IMPROVEMENT OF SERUM LIPIDS IN NON-INSULIN DEPENDENT DIABETES MELLITUS BY DIET THERAPY

THE INFLUENCE OF THE APO-E PHENOTYPE

Abstract

Two hundred and three subjects with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) Were divided into six groups according to difference in the apo E phenotype (E 2/2, E 2/3, E 2/4, E 3/3, E 3/4 and E4/4). Plasma glucose, body weight, plasma lipids and apolipoproteins Were measured in subjects with the apo E phenotypes E 2/3, E 3/3 and 3/4 before and after d et therapy. The frequency of the apo E alleles in NIDDM were the same as in normal subjects. The values of LDL-choresterol (LDL-C) on the 2nd day of hospitalization (before diet therapy) were significantly higher in the E 3/4 than in the E 2/3 group (P <0.05), though there were on differences in the total serum cholesterol (TC) among the three groups. On the 9th day of hospitalization (after therapy). TC and LDL-C were still significantly higher in the E 3/4 than in the E 2/3 group (P <0.05). The percentage changes in plasma glucose and body weight did not differ among these 3 groups (E 2/3, E 3/3, E 3/4) before and after diet therapy. The percentage improvement in TC with diet therapy was most remarkable in the E2/3 group, followed by the E3/3 and E3/4 groups in that order. Thus, the hereditary apo E phenotype could be one of the factors relevant to the improvement of serum TC or LDL-C with diet therapy in NIDDM.