Elevated fasting triglycerides predict impaired glucose tolerance in adolescents at risk for type 2 diabetes

  1. Kathy Love-Osborne1,*,
  2. Nancy Butler2,
  3. Dexiang Gao3,
  4. Phil Zeitler4

Article first published online: 11 AUG 2006

DOI: 10.1111/j.1399-5448.2006.00179.x

Issue

Pediatric Diabetes

Pediatric Diabetes

Volume 7, Issue 4, pages 205–210, August 2006

Additional Information

How to Cite

Love-Osborne, K., Butler, N., Gao, D. and Zeitler, P. (2006), Elevated fasting triglycerides predict impaired glucose tolerance in adolescents at risk for type 2 diabetes. Pediatric Diabetes, 7: 205–210. doi: 10.1111/j.1399-5448.2006.00179.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Division of Adolescent Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, CO, USA

  2. 2

    Pediatric General Clinical Research Center, The Children‘s Hospital and University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, CO, USA

  3. 3

    Research Institute, The Children’s Hospital and University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver CO, USA

  4. 4

    Division of Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics and Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes, University of Colorado Health Science Center, Denver CO, USA

*Kathy Love-Osborne, MD, Eastside Teen Clinic, Denver Health and Hospitals, 501 28th Street, Denver, CO 80205, USA. Tel: (303) 436-4688; fax: (303) 436-4665; e-mail: kathryn.love-osborne@dhha.org

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 11 AUG 2006
  2. Article first published online: 11 AUG 2006
  3. Submitted 21 July 2005. Accepted for publication 8 February 2006

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Keywords:

  • adolescent;
  • diabetes;
  • impaired glucose tolerance;
  • triglycerides;
  • insulin resistance

Objective:  The aim of this study was to evaluate whether fasting laboratory values can predict impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) in adolescents who are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Hypothesis:  Elevated fasting triglycerides, a marker for worsening insulin resistance, predict risk for IGT.

Design:  Following a fast of at least 9 h, laboratory measures, body mass index (BMI), and demographic information were obtained. The subjects then underwent a 75-g oral glucose challenge with a 2-h postchallenge glucose determination.

Subjects:  Eighty-four adolescents aged 12–20 yr with at least two risk factors for developing T2DM (obesity, family history of T2DM, or acanthosis nigricans) and with either a fasting insulin level ≥25 μU/mL or a homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) ≥3.5 were recruited for the study.

Results:  Ten subjects (12%) had IGT [2-h glucose ≥140 mg/dL (7.77 mmol/L)], and 10 subjects (12%) had impaired fasting glucose [IFG; fasting glucose ≥100 mg/dL (5.55 mmol/L)]. However, only three (30%) subjects with IGT had IFG, though all subjects with IGT had a fasting triglyceride level ≥150 mg/dL (1.70 mmol/L). Of those subjects with elevated triglycerides, 29% had IGT. As a screening test to predict risk for IGT, elevated triglycerides >150 mg/dL had a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 68%. The positive predictive value was 29%, and the negative predictive value was 100%.

Conclusions:  Screening with fasting glucose alone would have missed 70% of subjects with IGT in this population of insulin-resistant adolescents. However, a fasting triglyceride level ≥150 mg/dL was strongly associated with IGT and may help to identify at-risk adolescents who should undergo formal glucose tolerance testing.

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