MedWire News: Effective control of Type 1 diabetes causes a change in lipid metabolism that makes for a less atherogenic lipid profile, results published in the journal Atherosclerosis show.

"The metabolism of different lipoproteins in Type 1 diabetes has been studied extensively, indicating abnormalities in every lipoprotein fraction, but that of cholesterol has been assayed only in five moderately small-scale studies," report Tatu Miettinen (University of Helsinki, Finland) and fellow researchers.

Miettinen and colleagues therefore investigated changes in lipid profile and metabolism in 17 patients with poorly-controlled Type 1 diabetes who were given medications to improve their glycemic control.

The authors report that, in line with significant improvements in blood glucose control, patients showed a significant 28% increase in the ratio of lathosterol (a cholesterol synthesis marker) to cholesterol.

In addition, patients typically had a significant 23% increase in the proportion of lathosterol to cholestanol (a cholesterol absorption marker).

Interestingly, despite these significant changes in absorption and production, overall serum total cholesterol levels remained largely unchanged.

The authors explain: "Because low synthesis and high absorption of cholesterol may be pro-atherogenic, the increase in the ratio of synthesis to absorption accompanying improved glycemic control may decrease the cardiovascular risk."

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