Are hypertriglyceridemia and low HDL causal factors in the development of insulin resistance?

Naishi Li; Jingyuan Fu; Debby P Koonen; Jan Albert Kuivenhoven; Harold Snieder; Marten H Hofker

doi:10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2013.12.013

Are hypertriglyceridemia and low HDL causal factors in the development of insulin resistance?

Atherosclerosis. 2014 Mar;233(1):130-8. doi: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2013.12.013. Epub 2014 Jan 7.

Authors

Naishi Li¹, Jingyuan Fu², Debby P Koonen³, Jan Albert Kuivenhoven³, Harold Snieder⁴, Marten H Hofker⁵

Affiliations

¹ University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Molecular Genetics, Groningen, The Netherlands; Department of Endocrinology, Key Laboratory of Endocrinology of Ministry of Health, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Beijing, China.
² University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Genetics, Groningen, The Netherlands.
³ University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Molecular Genetics, Groningen, The Netherlands.
⁴ University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Epidemiology, Genetic Epidemiology & Bioinformatics Unit, Groningen, The Netherlands.
⁵ University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Molecular Genetics, Groningen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: M.H.Hofker@umcg.nl.

PMID: 24529133
DOI: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2013.12.013

Abstract

Insulin resistance often occurs with dyslipidemia as part of the metabolic syndrome and the current dominant paradigm is that insulin resistance leads to dyslipidemia. However, dyslipidemia may also cause insulin resistance; this was postulated 30 years ago, but has never been substantiated. Establishing whether dyslipidemia plays a causal role in the etiology of insulin resistance is important since it could reveal new avenues for combating type 2 diabetes. In this review we summarize recent evidence from epidemiological, genetic and intervention studies to re-address this old hypothesis.

Keywords: Dyslipidemia; HDL-cholesterol; Insulin resistance; Triglycerides.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Cholesterol, HDL / metabolism
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / prevention & control*
Dyslipidemias / complications
Genome-Wide Association Study
Humans
Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / therapeutic use
Hypertriglyceridemia / complications
Insulin Resistance / genetics
Insulin Resistance / physiology*
Metabolic Syndrome / complications

Substances

Cholesterol, HDL
Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors