Predominance of large VLDL particles in metabolic syndrome, detected by size exclusion liquid chromatography.

Objective: To study size heterogeneity of triglyceride rich lipoproteins (TRL) in metabolic syndrome (MS).

Design And Methods: Thirty MS patients and 14 healthy subjects were included. In fasting serum we measured: lipid profile, free fatty acids (FFA) and adiponectin; TRL were isolated (d<1.006 g/mL) and analysis by size exclusion HPLC followed by UV detection was performed; each subfraction was expressed as percentage of total TRL.

Results: MS patients, even those with normal triglycerides, presented higher proportion of very large VLDL (90 nm diameter) and large VLDL (60 nm) and slightly lower of typical VLDL (37 nm) (p<0.04); increased FFA (p=0.04) and lower adiponectin (p=0.001). FFA correlated with large VLDL% (r=0.58; p=0.003), independently of insulin-resistance and waist. Furthermore, the lower the adiponectin, the greater the predominance of large VLDL (r=-0.40; p=0.04).

Conclusion: MS was associated with large VLDL, described as more atherogenic beyond triglyceride levels. Size exclusion HPLC would represent a useful tool for assessing subfractions' lipoprotein profile.