"ldl subclass patterns and atherogenicity in non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus"

low density lipoprotein (ldl) subclass pattern b is characterized by predominance of small dense ldl. subjects with pattern b tend to have higher triglyceride (tg) and lower levels of high density lipoprotein cholesterol (hdl-c). small dense ldl is associated with increased risk of coronary disease. in this study, effect of non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (niddm) on ldl size, plasma tg and hdl-c were assessed in iranian patients. ldl size was determined by non-denaturing gradient polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in 81 niddm and 81 healthy subjects (age 50 to 70 yrs). tg and hdl-c were measured by analytical kits. fifty nine percent of diabetics and 27% of controls showed ldl pattern b. ldl size was significantly lower in diabetics than controls (25.1± 1.5 vs 25.8± 2.8 nm, p<0.001). diabetics had significantly higher triglyceride than controls (187.8 ± 90 vs 145.6 ± 69 mg/dl, p<0.001) and lower hdl-c (47.5± 12 vs 57.1± 14 mg/dl, p<0.001). ldl size correlated negatively with tg (r = -0.281, p<0.05). diabetics showed 2-fold increase in frequency of pattern b which may explain increased risk of coronary disease in these patients.