Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the relationships of plasma adiponectin with post-heparin plasma lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and hepatic lipase (HL) activities, and to evaluate whether plasma adiponectin contributes to diabetes-associated dyslipidaemia. Plasma adiponectin, post-heparin plasma lipase activities, lipoproteins and insulin sensitivity (hyperinsulinaemic euglycaemic clamp) were measured in 24 male type 2 diabetic patients and 24 age-matched healthy men. Plasma triglycerides (P < 0.01) and apolipoprotein B levels (P < 0.01) were higher, and HDL cholesterol was lower (P < 0.05) in type 2 diabetic patients. Plasma adiponectin, as well as LPL and HL activities were not significantly different between diabetic and healthy subjects. Multiple regression analysis showed that LPL activity was positively related with plasma adiponectin (P < 0.05). In contrast, HL activity was positively related with body mass index (P < 0.02) and waist/hip ratio (P < 0.05, multiple r = 0.74), but not with plasma adiponectin. Plasma adiponectin was positively associated with insulin sensitivity (P = 0.001), age (P < 0.02) and LPL activity (P < 0.05, multiple r = 0.64), but not with the presence of diabetes and HL activity. Plasma triglycerides were negatively related with LPL activity (P = 0.002) and positively with the diabetic state (P = 0.001, multiple r = 0.58). HDL cholesterol was positively related with plasma adiponectin (P = 0.003) and negatively with HL activity (P < 0.02) as well as with the presence of diabetes (P = 0.05, multiple r = 0.59). We conclude that post-heparin plasma LPL activity, but not HL activity, is related with plasma adiponectin. Plasma adiponectin appears to be a determinant of plasma triglycerides via an effect on LPL activity. It seems unlikely that plasma adiponectin predicts the effects of the diabetic state as such on high plasma triglycerides and low HDL cholesterol.

DOI: Clin. Lab. 2005;51:403-409