Gender differences in lipids and lipoprotein [a] profiles in healthy individuals and patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to assess gender differences in blood lipids and lipoprotein [a] levels in healthy individuals and patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. This study was carried out at Department of Physiology, Army Medical College, Rawalpindi, Pakistan. Sixty four patients suffering from type 2 DM and forty one healthy individuals were studied. The subjects were divided into healthy females, healthy males, type 2 DM females and type 2 DM males group. Fasting blood samples were analyzed for lipoprotein [a] [Lp [a]], total cholesterol [TC], triglycerides [TG], low density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL-C], high density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-C], glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin [HbAlc]. When the lipid profile of healthy females was compared with the lipid profile of healthy males it was observed that HDL-C levels were significantly higher in healthy females as compared to healthy males [p < 0.05] while serum triglycerides were significantly raised in healthy males as compared to healthy females [p < 0.05]. Diabetic females had significantly higher levels of LDL-C, HDL-C, TG and Lp [a] levels as compared to healthy females [p < 0.01, p < 0.05, p < 0.05 and p < 0.05]. Diabetic males had significantly higher levels of TC, LDL-C, HDL-C and Lp [a] levels than healthy males [p < 0.01, p < 0.05, p < 0.01, and p < 0.05]. The difference in lipid and Lp [a] profile was non significant between diabetic females and diabetic males. There are gender differences in lipid profile in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus as well as healthy individuals. Diabetic individuals have raised levels of Lp [a] as compared to non diabetic subjects in case of both females and males. However in diabetic females and diabetic males there is no difference in lipid profile and Lp [a] concentrations. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings: