Acute Insulin Withdrawal and the Regulation of Plasma Triglyceride Removal in Diabetic Subjects

Abstract

The effects of acute insulin deprivation on the enzyme lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and on triglyceride (TG) removal from plasma in man are unknown. To assess the role of insulin availability on TG removal, plasma TG concentration and postheparin lipolytic activity (PHLA)[long dash]an indirect means of quantitating LPL[long dash]were measured in 7 insulin-dependent diabetics before and 48 hr. after insulin withdrawal. The TG elevation (p < .01) and diminished PHLA levels (p < .01) observed in all subjects were consistent with impaired TG removal. The delayed disappearance of C-14-labeled TG after insulin deprivation (p < .01) demonstrated in 2 subjects further suggests that insulin is required for maintaining normal LPL and TG removal.