SERUM TRIGLYCERIDE LEVELS OF UNTREATED DIABETICS IN RELATION TO VASCULAR LESIONS AND OBESITY

The serum triglyceride levels of 211 untreated diabetics in the fasting state were studied in relation to vascular lesions, obesity and age of onset of diabetes. 1) Diabetics had significantly higher triglyceride levels than the normal subjects, and those with vascular lesions had significantly higher triglyceride levels than those without vascular lesions, excepting the patients with diabetic micro-angiopathy alone, no significantly higher triglyceride levels being found in them. The most marked increase of serum triglycerides was observed in diabetics with coronary sclerosis, who showed the highest prevalence of hypertriglyceridemia. 2) Diabetics with fasting blood sugar levels over 140 mg% had much higher triglyceride levels than those with the levels under 140 mg%, and the former had much higher percentage of hypectriglyceridemia than the latter. 3) A high degree of positive correlation between relative body weight and serum triglycerides was observed. In the diabetics without vascular lesions an overweight of 10 kg corresponded to an increase of 31 mg% of triglycerides, whereas in those with vascular lesions the same overweight corresponded to an increase of 49 mg% of triglycerides. 4) Diabetics with vascular lesions whose ages at the onset of diabetes were over 30 had significantly higher triglyceride levels and higher prevalence of obesity when compared with those who developed the disease at ages under 30. However, in diabetics without vascular lesions the age of disease onset had no influence on serum triglyceride levels. © 1969, Tohoku University Medical Press. All rights reserved.