Relationship of Apolipoprotein B-100 and Lipid Profile Parameters among Diabetic Patients in a Tertiary Hospital in Nigeria

Diabetic dyslipidaemia is the bane of most complications seen in diabetes mellitus. The aim of our
study is to determine the levels of apolipoprotein B-100 among diabetic adults and non-diabetic
control; and its relationship with the traditional lipid profile parameters.
A total of 58 subjects including 30 diabetic patients and 28 non-diabetic controls selected from
diabetic clinic and immunization centres respectively. Subjects were randomly selected, examined
clinically and have their anthropometric parameters measured. Lipid profile was assayed using
standard enzymatic spectrophotometric methods while serum apolipoprotein B-100 was measured
using sandwich immunoassay technique. Data were expressed in means and standard deviations.
Differences in means between the two groups were assessed using Student T-test and relationships
tested using Pearson’s correlation study. Mean ages of diabetic and non-diabetic groups were
57.7±7.4 and 49.3± 17.9 years respectively (p>0.05). Statistical differences exist in the age, weight,
BMI, and blood pressure between the two study groups. Serum apolipoprotein B-100 in the diabetic
and non-diabetic controls were 84.9±58.8 and 67.6±44.3 mg/dl respectively (p<0.05). A weak positive
correlation exists between serum apolipoprotein B-100 and haemoglobin A1c (r=0.420; p=0.021)
while a strong positive correlation exists between apolipoprotein B-100 and LDL-cholesterol (r=0.702,
p=0.001); apolipoprotein B-100 and non-HDL-cholesterol (r=0.690; p=0.001) and apolipoprotein B-
100 and total cholesterol (r=0.688; p=0.001). Elevated apolipoprotein B-100 is a biochemical feature
in poorly controlled diabetes mellitus. There is a positive relationship between apolipoprotein B-100
and total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and nonHDL-cholesterol. We advise the adoption of
apolipoprotein B-100 as a routine test in the evaluation of diabetic dyslipidaemia among the diabetic
patients.