This Article Full Text (PDF) Submit a related Letter to the Editor Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Copyright Permission Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by TASKINEN, M.-R. Articles by NIKKILÄ, E. A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by TASKINEN, M.-R. Articles by NIKKILÄ, E. A.

Short-Term Effects of Prednisone on Serum Lipids and High Density Lipoprotein Subfractions in Normolipidemic Healthy Men^*

MARJA-RIITTA TASKINEN, TIMO KUUSI, HANNELE YKI-JÄARVINEN, and ESKO A. NIKKILÄ

Second and Third Departments of Medicine, University of Helsinki 00290 Helsinki, Finland

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Marja-Riitta Taskinen, M.D., Second Department of Medicine, Meilahti Hospital, 00290 Helsinki, Finland.

To study the effects of short term low dose prednisone administration on serum lipids and lipoproteins we measured the concentration and composition of serum lipoproteins; serum apoproteins (apo) A-I, A-II, and B; and plasma lipolytic enzymes before and during prednisone administration (30 mg/day for 7 days) in eight normal men. We also measured insulin binding to adipocytes. Serum high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol increased significantly after 2 days of prednisone administration; the maximal increase was 27% (P < 0.01 after 5 days). The rise of HDL cholesterol was accounted for by that of HDL₂ cholesterol. There were marked changes in the distribution of HDL particles; HDL₂ increased, whereas HDL₃ decreased. These changes were also apparent after 2 days of prednisone administration and were maximal at 5 days [mean, 1.58 ± 0.12 (±SE) us. 2.00 ± 0.14 g/L (P < 0.001) for HDL₂; 1.82 ± 0.11 os. 1.61 ± 0.06 g/L (P < 0.05) for HDL₃], and they were due to opposing changes in cholesterol, phospholipids, and proteins in the HDL subfractions. The change in HDL₂ protein correlated inversely with that in HDL₃ protein (r = –0.73; P < 0.05). Notably, prednisone did not change the apo A-I concentration, but that of apo A-II decreased (0.32 ± 0.02 vs. 0.27 ± 0.01 g/L; P < 0.05). Consequently, the lip id to protein ratio of HDL increased. Prednisone induced no significant changes in very low density or low density (LDL) lipoproteins. Adipose tissue LPL activity did not increase until after 7 days of prednisone intake (1.10 ± 0.28 vs. 3.43 ± 1.02 /imol FFA/g·h; P < 0.05), and the same was true for muscle LPL (0.49 ± 0.14 vs. 0.82 ± 0.11 /xmol FFA/g-h; n = 4; P = 0.06). Specific insulin binding was normal, but both basal and maximal insulin-stimulated glucose transport decreased significantly. In summary, prednisone induces changes in serum HDL which are characterized by redistribution of particles within HDL density toward less dense particles and a quantitative rise of lipids in the HDL₂ fraction

^* This work was supported by grants from the Sigrid Juselius Foundation, the University of Helsinki, and the Nordisk Insulin Fond (Gentofte, Denmark).

Deceased September 21, 1986.

Received October 5, 1987.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				D. J. Brotman, J. P. Girod, M. J. Garcia, J. V. Patel, M. Gupta, A. Posch, S. Saunders, G. Y. H. Lip, S. Worley, and S. Reddy Effects of Short-Term Glucocorticoids on Cardiovascular Biomarkers J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., June 1, 2005; 90(6): 3202 - 3208. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. Kannisto, K. H. Pietilainen, E. Ehrenborg, A. Rissanen, J. Kaprio, A. Hamsten, and H. Yki-Jarvinen Overexpression of 11{beta}-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase-1 in Adipose Tissue Is Associated with Acquired Obesity and Features of Insulin Resistance: Studies in Young Adult Monozygotic Twins J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., September 1, 2004; 89(9): 4414 - 4421. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]