Diabetes Care, Vol 15, Issue 7 886-894, Copyright © 1992 by American Diabetes Association
Lipid and lipoprotein levels in patients with IDDM diabetes control and complication. Trial experience. The DCCT Research Group
OBJECTIVES--To compare lipid and lipoprotein levels in patients with
insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) with values in similarly aged
nondiabetic subjects and analyze the effects of demographic variables,
metabolic control, and other factors on the lipid and lipoprotein levels in
the diabetic population. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS--Fasting total
cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and
high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels measured during screening
for the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT) in 1569 generally
healthy IDDM patients, between the ages of 13 and 40 yr and with 1-15 yr
diabetes duration, were compared with values obtained with similar methods
in the Lipid Research Clinics (LRC) prevalence study of nondiabetic
individuals. RESULTS--When similarly aged groups of IDDM and nondiabetic
subjects were compared, higher total and LDL cholesterol and lower HDL
cholesterol lipid profiles were restricted to younger (13-24 yr) female
diabetic subjects. In general, IDDM males and older IDDM females had
similar or slightly less atherogenic profiles than similarly aged
nondiabetic subjects. Metabolic control, measured by HbA1c, and body weight
(% of ideal body wt) correlated positively with total cholesterol, LDL
cholesterol, and triglyceride levels. CONCLUSIONS--Lipid and lipoprotein
levels in the generally healthy IDDM volunteers for the DCCT are similar to
those in the nondiabetic population. More atherogenic profiles were present
only in younger IDDM women compared with nondiabetic women. The differences
between the DCCT data and older studies that demonstrated more profound
abnormalities in lipid levels in IDDM populations may reflect patient
selection and/or changes in dietary patterns (higher-carbohydrate and
lower-fat content) and in glucose control that has occurred in recent
years.