Metabolic relationships among the plasma lipoproteins

Abstract

The changes in other plasma lipoproteins which accompany alterations in very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) were studied in 31 normal and hyperlipidemic men and women who underwent weight reduction, carbohydrate induction, or clofibrate treatment. Plasma lipids and individual lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations were measured serially during control and treatment periods. Low density lipoprotein (LDL) protein was determined by radial immunodiffusion. Oppositely directed changes in VLDL and LDL were found with each of the three metabolic perturbations. Changes in high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol generally paralleled those in LDL but were less consistent. Two patients with type III hyperlipoproteinemia failed to demonstrate reciprocal increases in LDL despite more than 40% reduction in plasma glycerides or VLDL with weight reduction or clofibrate therapy. After clofibrate therapy, LDL increased in proportion to the absolute decrease in VLDL cholesterol during treatment. LDL protein changed relatively less than did LDL cholesterol. The mechanism for the interdependency of plasma VLDL and LDL concentrations over the long term is not known and may be the result of altered rates of interconversion of these lipoproteins, or to feedback inhibition by VLDL of LDL production and release.