Cholesterol synthesis in type III hyperlipoproteinemic and non-hyperlipidemic individuals

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether increased endogenous cholesterol synthesis contributes to the elevated plasma cholesterol levels observed in type III hyperlipoproteinemia (type III HLP). Eight apolipoprotein (apo) E2 subjects with type III HLP and 8 apo E2 non-hyperlipidemic control subjects (controls) were given a priming bolus dose of deuterium oxide (D₂O) (0.7 g D₂O/kg body H2O). Daily M1 (central) pool free cholesterol fractional synthetic rate (FSR) was calculated as the incorporation rate of deuterium from body water into plasma free cholesterol. Blood samples were collected one half hour prior to, and at 12 hour intervals over 48 hours following, the bolus D₂O dose. Drinking water labelled at 1.4 and 0.7 g D₂O/liter H₂O was given on the fed and fasted days, respectively. Over 0-24 hours, subjects consumed a diet of three isocaloric meals which, in composition, approximated average North American intakes. Subjects fasted over 24-48 hours. The deuterium enrichment of plasma free cholesterol and plasma water was determined by isotope ratio mass spectrometry. When all subjects were included, mean (±SEM) free cholesterol overall FSR in type III HLPs (0.031 ± 0.006 per day) was not significantly different from controls (0.037 ± 0.004 per day). Estimated Ml total cholesterol pool size in type III HLPs (26.1 ± 1.9 g) and controls (24.9 ± 0.6 g) was not significantly different. When free cholesterol net synthesis was calculated as the absolute amount of cholesterol synthesized per day, based on Ml total cholesterol pool size, overall free cholesterol net synthesis in type III HLPs (0.304 ± 0.034 g/day) was not significantly different from controls (0.364 ± 0.035 g/day). When all subjects were included, overall free cholesterol FSR and overall free cholesterol net synthesis were significantly greater (p