Lipid Metabolism Disorders and Overweight In Diabetic, IGTand Normal Subjects In Islamshahr, Iran

SUMMARY Due to the importance of coronary heart diseases in today's world and in view of the fact that hyperlipidemia, hyperglycemia and obesity are regarded as the main risk factors in these diseases and also considering the paucity of epidemiologic surveys in our society, this study was carried out in Islamshahr 30 Km to the southwest of Tehran. Out of 244000 population of the area, 2033 persons over 30 years of age were selected by stepwise random sampling. The subjects were 835 males (41 %) and 1198 females (59 % ) . A fasting blood sample was taken for glucose, cholesterol and triglyceride measurements. Another blood sample was also secured two hours following a 75 g oral glucose. Weight and height were measured and BMI calculated. WHO criteria for categorization of diabetes, IGT and nonnal was adapted. The results showed mean BMI in diabetics, IGT and normal subjects to be 29.7, 29.9 and 27.5 respectively. The increase in diabetics and IGT compared to normal subjects was statistically significant (P<0.001). Forty-two percent of the diabetics, 45 % of the IGT and 29% of normal subjects were moderately to severely obese. The percentage of obese women in the diabetic, IGT and normal group was higher compared to men. Mean cholesterol in diabetic, IGT and normal subjects was 273±64, 252±56 and 233±54 mg/dl respectively. The difference was statistically significant among the three groups (P<0.001). Of those with over 239 mg/dl cholesterol levels 11.6% were diabetic and 16.1 % were IGT, while in those with below 239 mg/dl cholesterol only 4.2% were diabetic and 9.6% were IGT. Percentage of women with over 239 mg/di cholesterol in diabetic and IGT groups was higher compared to men. Mean triglyceride of 358 ±279 mg/dl in diabetics showed an increase compared to 243 ± 144 in the IGT and 214± 167 in the normal subjects (P < 0.001). Of those with over 200 mg/dl triglyceride levels 11. 7% were diabetic and 16.4% were IGT, while in those with below 200 mg/di TG levels only 4.1 % were diabetic and 9.3% IGT. High TG levels (over 200 mg/di) were more prevalent in female diabetics than in the male ones. Our findings could be a confirmation of the fact that obesity and hyperlipidemia are associating factors in diabetes, necessitating interventional programs to rectify nutritional status, physical activity and community knowledge in this regard.