Fasting plasma triglyceride concentration: A possible approach to identify increased risk of statin-induced type 2 diabetes

AIM: To evaluate the hypothesis that measurement of fasting plasma triglyceride concentration identifies individuals at enhanced risk of statin-induced type 2 diabetes mellitus. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of data collected from routine health examinations in non-diabetic, East Asian individuals (n = 5790) with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations of 3.4 mmol/L. Subjects were stratified into those with or without a triglyceride concentration of 1.7 mmol/L, and comparisons made of risk factors for type 2 diabetes mellitus. RESULTS: Approximately 40% of men and 20% of women with elevations of both low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations were more insulin resistant (homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance), associated with higher plasma concentrations of HbA1c, glucose and insulin. CONCLUSION: Apparently, healthy, non-diabetic East Asian men and women with combined elevations of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations are glucose intolerant and insulin resistant, and thereby at enhanced risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Measurement of plasma triglyceride concentration can identify within a hypercholesterolemic population a subset of individuals at enhanced risk of statin-induced type 2 diabetes mellitus.