Cholesterol metabolism and non-cholesterol sterol distribution in lipoproteins of type 1 diabetes: The effect of improved glycemic control

Type 1 diabetes is associated with an increase in cholesterol absorption markers but a decrease in cholesterol synthesis markers in a young adult population

BACKGROUND

To optimize treatment and prevent cardiovascular disease in subjects with type 1 diabetes, it is important to determine how cholesterol metabolism changes with type 1 diabetes.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the study was to compare plasma levels of campesterol and β-sitosterol, markers of cholesterol absorption, as well as lathosterol, a marker of cholesterol synthesis, in youth with and without type 1 diabetes.

METHODS

Serum samples were obtained from adolescent subjects with type 1 diabetes (n = 175, mean age 15.2 years, mean duration of diabetes 8.2 years) and without diabetes (n = 74, mean age 15.4 years). Campesterol, β-sitosterol, and lathosterol, were measured using targeted liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry, compared between groups, and correlated with the available cardiometabolic variables.

RESULTS

Campesterol and β-sitosterol levels were 30% higher in subjects with type 1 diabetes and positively correlated with hemoglobin A1c levels. In contrast, lathosterol levels were 20% lower in subjects with type 1 diabetes and positively correlated with triglycerides, body mass index, and systolic blood pressure.

CONCLUSION

Plasma markers suggest that cholesterol absorption is increased, whereas cholesterol synthesis is decreased in adolescent subjects with type 1 diabetes. Further studies to address the impact of these changes on the relative efficacy of cholesterol absorption and synthesis inhibitors in subjects with type 1 diabetes are urgently needed.

De novo lipogenesis and cholesterol synthesis in humans with long-standing type 1 diabetes are comparable to non-diabetic individuals

BACKGROUND

Synthesis of lipid species, including fatty acids (FA) and cholesterol, can contribute to pathological disease. The purpose of this study was to investigate FA and cholesterol synthesis in individuals with type 1 diabetes, a group at elevated risk for vascular disease, using stable isotope analysis.

METHODS

Individuals with type 1 diabetes (n = 9) and age-, sex-, and BMI-matched non-diabetic subjects (n = 9) were recruited. On testing day, meals were provided to standardize food intake and elicit typical feeding responses. Blood samples were analyzed at fasting (0 and 24 h) and postprandial (2, 4, 6, and 8 hours after breakfast) time points. FA was isolated from VLDL to estimate hepatic FA synthesis, whereas free cholesterol (FC) and cholesteryl ester (CE) was isolated from plasma and VLDL to estimate whole-body and hepatic cholesterol synthesis, respectively. Lipid synthesis was measured using deuterium incorporation and isotope ratio mass spectrometry.

RESULTS

Fasting total hepatic lipogenesis (3.91 ± 0.90% vs. 5.30 ± 1.22%; P = 0.41) was not significantly different between diabetic and control groups, respectively, nor was synthesis of myristic (28.60 ± 4.90% vs. 26.66 ± 4.57%; P = 0.76), palmitic (12.52 ± 2.75% vs. 13.71 ± 2.64%; P = 0.65), palmitoleic (3.86 ± 0.91% vs. 4.80 ± 1.22%; P = 0.65), stearic (5.55 ± 1.04% vs. 6.96 ± 0.97%; P = 0.29), and oleic acid (1.45 ± 0.28% vs. 2.10 ± 0.51%; P = 0.21). Postprandial lipogenesis was also not different between groups (P = 0.38). Similarly, fasting synthesis of whole-body FC (8.2 ± 1.3% vs. 7.3 ± 0.8%/day; P = 0.88) and CE (1.9 ± 0.4% vs. 2.0 ± 0.3%/day; P = 0.96) and hepatic FC (8.2 ± 2.0% vs. 8.1 ± 0.8%/day; P = 0.72) was not significantly different between diabetic and control subjects.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite long-standing disease, lipogenesis and cholesterol synthesis was not different in individuals with type 1 diabetes compared to healthy non-diabetic humans.

The intestine as a regulator of cholesterol homeostasis in diabetes

The chylomicron influences very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) composition but itself is atherogenic. Thus abnormalities of chylomicron production are of interest particularly in conditions such as diabetes which confer major cardiovascular risk. Intestinal function is abnormal in diabetes and is a major cause of the dyslipidaemia found in this condition. Studies have suggested that cholesterol absorption is decreased in diabetes and cholesterol synthesis increased. Molecular mechanisms involved in insulin resistance in the intestine and its effect on cholesterol homeostasis in diabetes are described. Abnormalities in triglyceride synthesis and alterations genes regulating cholesterol absorption and intestinal synthesis are discussed. In particular, increase in apolipoprotein B48 synthesis has been demonstrated in animal models of diabetes and insulin resistance. Intestinal mRNA expression of Niemann Pick C1-like 1, protein is increased in both experimental and human diabetes suggesting that an increase in cholesterol transportation does occur. mRNA expression of the ATP binding cassette proteins (ABC) G5 and G8, two proteins working in tandem to excrete cholesterol have been shown to be decreased suggesting increased delivery of cholesterol for absorption. Expression of microsomal triglyceride transfer protein, which assembles the chylomicron particle, is increased in diabetes leading to increase in both number and cholesterol content. In conclusion, diabetes is associated with considerable dysfunction of the intestine leading to abnormal chylomicron composition which may play a major part in the premature development of atherosclerosis.