Postprandial triglyceride levels in patients with or without metabolic syndrome and their relationship with coronary artery disease

OBJECTIVES
Postprandial triglyceride levels are thought to carry greater risk than fasting levels for coronary artery disease (CAD). We investigated the relationship between CAD and fasting and postprandial hypertriglyceridemia in patients with or without metabolic syndrome (MS).

STUDY DESIGN
The study included 122 patients (75 males, 47 females; mean age 59±10 years) whose coronary arteries were examined by coronary angiography within the past six months. The patients were evaluated in four groups according to the presence or absence of CAD and MS, that is, patients, (i) without CAD or MS; (ii) having MS without CAD; (iii) having CAD without MS; and (iv) having both. The diagnosis of MS was made according to the NCEP ATP III criteria. Serum triglyceride levels were measured after 12-hour fasting and at 2, 4, 6, and 8 hours following a lipid loaded breakfast.

RESULTS
Metabolic syndrome and CAD were detected in 49 patients (40.2%) and 51 patients (41.8), respectively. Compared to the patients without MS, fasting and postprandial triglyceride levels were significantly higher at all times in patients with MS (p<0.05), whereas triglyceride levels of patients with and without CAD did not differ significantly (p>0.05). Post-hoc analyses showed that MS was the only factor that affected triglyceride levels significantly.

CONCLUSION
Our data demonstrate that postprandial triglyceride levels exhibit higher increases and remain high for a longer period in patients with MS, without showing a significant relationship with CAD.