The changes in plasma lipoprotein lipase activity after intravenous injection of dextran sulfate, which stimulates release of lipoprotein lipase, have been studied in forty two diabetic patients, eight obese subjects and eleven normal subjects.
In normal subjects, the response of lipoprotein lipase activity to dextran sulfate averaged 5.7±0.6 (S.E.) μEq. FFA/ml. at ten minutes and 6.5±1.2 (S.E.) μEq. FFA/ml. at twenty minutes.
A significantly decreased response of lipoprotein lipase activity to dextran sulfate was found in obese subjects and in diabetic patients, especially in those with hypertriglyceridemia. No correlation was observed between the cholesterol level and lipoprotein lipase activity. No significant relation between changes of lipoprotein lipase activity and the incidence of diabetic complications was found.
