Serum Lipid Profile in Sudanese Patients with Type II Diabetes Mellitus Associated with Obesity

Abstract

A cross-sectional study conducted during the period from March to September 2009, compared serum levels of triglycerides, total cholesterol, high density and low density lipoproteins of 80 obese Sudanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (as a test group) and 30 apparently healthy subjects non-diabetic, non-obese (as control group A), 30 non-obese diabetic patients, (as control group B). Participants in this study were from different hospitals and health centers in Khartoum state, Sudan. Age and gender of the test group were matched with the control groups. The serum levels of triglycerides, total cholesterol, high density and low density lipoproteins were measured using BTS 305 spectrophotometer and commercial kits from Biosystem Company. The mean of the serum levels of triglycerides of the test group was significantly raised when compared to that of control group A, (P=0.018), while there was no significant difference when compared to that of control group B, (P = 0.397). The mean of the serum levels of total cholesterol of the test group showed significant differences when compared to control group (A) (P=0.008) and control group (B) (P=0.021). The mean of serum levels of high density lipoproteins of the test group was not significantly differ from the two control groups (A, P=0.855) and (B, P = 0.611). The mean of the serum levels of low density lipoproteins of the test group was significantly raised when compared to the two control groups (A, P=0.001) and (B, P = 0.028). In the diabetic group the serum levels of triglycerides showed a very weak positive correlation with the body mass index (BMI), whereas the serum levels of total cholesterol, and low density lipoproteins showed a weak positive correlation. The serum levels of high density lipoproteins showed a very weak negative correlation with the body mass index (BMI). From the results of this study, it is concluded that: obesity increases the serum levels of total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein and hence the risk of atherosclerosis in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.