Low density lipoprotein particle size is associated with glycosylated hemoglobin levels regardless of plasma lipid levels.

We evaluated the influence of the levels of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1C) and fasting plasma glucose on the variation in low density lipoprotein (LDL) peak particle size in 210 subjects who were undergoing an annual check-up. Univariate analysis showed that LDL particle size was significantly and positively correlated with high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels, and was inversely correlated with the levels of total plasma cholesterol, triglycerides, fasting glucose, fasting insulin, HbA1C, and body mass index (BMI). Stepwise regression analysis selected four independent contributing variables that could affect LDL particle size; triglyceride levels, HDL cholesterol levels, LDL cholesterol levels, and HbA1C levels. Similar regression analysis performed for men and for normotensive subjects showed that HbA1C levels also independently influenced LDL particle size. The results indicate that HbA1C levels have a significant effect on LDL particle size. This suggests that small LDL particles would be present in subjects with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus regardless of plasma lipid concentrations.