Effects of gemfibrozil on low-density lipoprotein particle size, density distribution, and composition in patients with type II diabetes

• Published in: Diabetes care Vol. 16; no. 4; pp. 584 - 592
• Main Authors: LAHDENPERÄ, S, TILLY-KIESI, M, VUORINEN-MARKKOLA, H, KUUSI, T, TASKINEN, M.-R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Alexandria, VA American Diabetes Association 01-04-1993
• Subjects: Apolipoproteins B - blood; Biological and medical sciences; Blood Glucose - metabolism; C-Peptide - blood; Cholesterol, HDL - blood; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - blood; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - drug therapy; Double-Blind Method; Female; Gemfibrozil - therapeutic use; General and cellular metabolism. Vitamins; Glycated Hemoglobin A - analysis; Humans; Hypoglycemic Agents - therapeutic use; Lipoproteins, LDL - blood; Lipoproteins, VLDL - blood; Male; Medical sciences; Metformin - therapeutic use; Middle Aged; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Phospholipids - blood; Placebos; Triglycerides - blood; Endocrinopathy; Human; Lipoprotein LDL; Chemotherapy; Treatment; Lipids; Lipoprotein; Metabolism; Non insulin dependent diabetes; Biological activity; Antilipemic agent
• ISSN: 0149-5992; 1935-5548
• DOI: 10.2337/diacare.16.4.584

Effects of gemfibrozil on low-density lipoprotein particle size, density distribution, and composition in patients with type
II diabetes.
S Lahdenperä ,
M Tilly-Kiesi ,
H Vuorinen-Markkola ,
T Kuusi and
M R Taskinen
Second Department of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Finland.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE--To study the effects of gemfibrozil treatment on LDL particle size, density distribution, and composition in NIDDM
patients. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS--We performed LDL analyses on 16 NIDDM patients with stable glycemic control. They were
randomly allocated to receive either gemfibrozil (n = 8) or a placebo (n = 8) for 3 mo in a double-blind study. The LDL particle
size distribution and the particle diameter of the major LDL peak were measured with nondenaturing polyacrylamide gradient
gel electrophoresis. The density distribution and composition of LDL were determined with the density gradient ultracentrifugation
method. RESULTS--In the gemfibrozil group the mean serum TG concentration decreased by 38%, HDL cholesterol concentration
increased by 10%, and LDL cholesterol concentration by 17% (P < 0.05). During gemfibrozil therapy the mean particle diameter
of the major LDL peak increased from 244 to 251 A (P < 0.05), whereas in the placebo group the mean LDL particle diameter
remained unchanged. We found an inverse correlation between the changes of serum TG and the particle diameters of the major
LDL peak (r = 0.85, P < 0.01). Gemfibrozil produced a shift in the LDL density distribution toward lower density. The mean
peak density decreased from 1.0371 to 1.0345 g/ml because of a significant rise in the light LDL concentration from 141.0
to 183.2 mg/dl (P < 0.05), whereas the concentration of dense LDL had a tendency to decrease. In the placebo group the LDL
density distribution did not change. Gemfibrozil increased the CE-to-TG ratio in LDL core lipids by 27% (P < 0.05); otherwise,
the LDL composition was only slightly affected. CONCLUSIONS--The results indicate gemfibrozil-induced changes in LDL properties
in NIDDM patients are similar to those previously reported in nondiabetic individuals and are related to changes in serum
TG level.