Impaired incretin secretion in patients with familial combined hyperlipidemia

Objectives: Familial combined hyperlipidemia (FCH) is the most frequent lipid genetic disorder in developed countries and is associated with a high incidence of premature cardiovascular disease. FCH is also associated with insulin resistance, abdominal obesity, fatty liver disease, endothelial dysfunction, low-grade inflammation and with the classic lipid phenotype of T2DM, presenting high triglyceride plasma level, decreased high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and increased amounts of small, dense LDL particles. Furthermore, patients with FCH are at greater risk of developing T2DM. Additionaly, impaired incretin secretion has been observed in diabetic individuals, and in other populations at high risk of developing T2DM, like patients with metabolic syndrome and impaired glucose tolerance. Apart from its insulinotropic effects, GLP-1 and GIP have been related direct and indirectly with lipid metabolism. Incretin secretion has not been previously studied in patients with FCH. The aim of this study was to investigate if patients with FCH have an impaired incretin secretion pattern.