– Atherosclerosis – Cardiovascular risk –

Background: Both postprandial hyperglycaemia and hypertriglyceridaemia have been identified as risk markers for cardiovascular disease. However, the determinants of the magnitude of postprandial triglyceride and glucose responses are largely unknown. The objective was to assess potential determinants of postprandial glucose and triglyceride responses following two consecutive meals in women with normal glucose metabolism (NGM) and with type 2 diabetes (DM2). Methods: Post-menopausal women, 76 with NGM and 41 with DM2, received two consecutive fat-rich meals and carbohydrate-rich meals on separate occasions. Blood samples were taken before and at t=1, 2, 4, 6 and 8 hours following breakfast; lunch was given at t=4h. Results: In NGM women, fasting triglycerides, HbA1c, total cholesterol, and, inversely, HDL-cholesterol were independently associated with TG-iAUC, and age and fasting triglycerides were independently associated with glucose-iAUC (GL-iAUC). In women with DM2, fasting triglycerides were independently associated with TG-iAUC while HbA1c and fasting glucose were stronger than fasting triglycerides associated with GL-iAUC. GL-iAUC and TG-iAUC were associated with each other in women with DM2, but not in NGM. Conclusions: In conclusion, GL-iAUC and TG-iAUC were correlated with each other in women with DM2 and fasting triglycerides were associated with both GL-iAUC and TG-iAUC. These findings suggest a common underlying mechanism for postprandial increments in glucose and triglycerides. In women with NGM, elevated TG-iAUC may be part of a dyslipidemic lipid profile whereas fasting triglycerides were related to GL-iAUC, suggestive for an association with insulin resistance.