Correlation of atherogenic indices and IMA with glycaemic control in diabetic patients with and without dyslipidemia

Atherosclerosis is one of the most common major complications associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Recent research suggests that the major culprits are modified proteins like LDL and albumin. Hence, this study focuses on the analysis of small dense LDL (sd LDL), oxidised LDL (ox LDL) and ischemia modified albumin (IMA) in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with and without dyslipidemia and compare with healthy subjects. Further, correlate atherogenic indices (ox LDL/HDL and sdLDL/HDL) with glycated haemoglobin in these groups. 90 subjects aged between 30-60 years of both the genders were divided into 3 groups namely diabetic dyslipidemia (Group1), diabetic non dyslipidemia (Group2) and normal (group3). Serum lipid profile, ox LDL and IMA were estimated by spectrophotometric methods, sd LDL by calculation and glycated Hb by HPLC. Ox LDL showed an apparent increase in diabetics (group 1and 2) compared to normal. Though sd LDL levels in diabetic patients remained normal, the values doubled in dyslipidemic diabetics. sd LDL/HDL ratio was significantly high in both group1and 2 compared to normal. Furthermore, there was a significant positive correlation of this ratio with glycated Hb in both groups of diabetes. Serum IMA also increased significantly in diabetes with dyslipidemia compared to non dyslipidemic diabetics. The study highlights the fact that in diabetics, oxidatively modified proteins like LDL and albumin may increase with hyperglycemia even before dyslipidemia sets in. Hence, ox LDL and sd LDL may be included in the battery of extended lipid profile to monitor cardiovascular complications in diabetes.