Role of lipase in glucose and lipid metabolisms

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of lipase in glucose and lipid metabolisms.

METHODS: A prospective study involving 52 diabetics (28 males and 24 females, mean age 47.67 ± 15.63 years) and 118 normoglycemic controls (39 males and 79 females, mean age 38.91 ± 16.61 years) was conducted, between February 1st and August 31st, 2006, at King Abdullah Hospital, Bisha, Saudi Arabia. After 10-12 hours fasting, blood was taken from subjects and controls for the determination of glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol, and lipase. The results were analyzed by student's t-test and Pearson correlation coefficient.

RESULTS: The levels of glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL-cholesterol, and lipase were significantly more in the diabetics (p<0.05). However, HDL-cholesterol was less in the diabetics than the controls, although the difference was not significant (p>0.05). There were significant positive correlations between glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride, and lipase; while, significant negative correlations were obtained between LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, and lipase.

CONCLUSION: The higher concentrations of glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride, and LDL-cholesterol, as well as the lower HDL-cholesterol in the diabetics were typical and not unexpected, as diabetes mellitus is associated with disturbance of lipid metabolism. The lipase activity was elevated at increased concentrations of glucose and lipids. Hence, it was concluded that the pancreatic lipase was possibly involved in the metabolisms of both glucose and lipids. Lipolysis has been suggested as the link between the 2 processes.