Effect of African descent on the lipoprotein profile in normal weight insulin resistant individuals

People of African descent are known to have less severe dyslipidemia in the presence of insulin resistance. Whether this is also seen in those with normal weight is unclear. The objectives of this study were thus to assess the lipid profiles of a multi-ethnic Caribbean population and determine if Afro-Caribbean ethnicity (compared to other racial/ethnic groups) is less strongly associated with dyslipidemia among persons with insulin resistance. Caribbean-born United States Virgin Islands (USVI) residents age 20 and older, 724 of whom were non-Hispanic blacks (Afro-Caribbean-AC) and 302 non Afro-Caribbean (NAC), participated in the study. Fasting blood samples were drawn and analyzed for blood glucose, serum lipids and insulin. Among normal weight persons with insulin resistance (n=80) the age-and sex- adjusted triglyceride level was similar for AC and NAC persons [AC=3.12 mmol/l (CI-2.68-3.53); NAC=2.96 (CI-2.25-3.45); p=.4328]. However, in persons who had an abnormal weight (n=456) (overweight or obese) mean triglyceride level for AC persons was significantly lower than for NAC persons [AC=2.65 mmol/l (CI-2.49-2.82); NAC=3.65 (CI–3.33-3.99); p=<.0001]. There was no significant difference between the mean HDLc for normal weight AC and NAC persons. [AC=1.27 mmol/l (CI–1.19-1.35); NAC=1.27 mmol/l (CI–1.18-1.36); p=.9540]. The mean HDLc for abnormal weight AC persons was higher than for NAC persons. [AC=1.24 mmol/l (CI–1.21-1.27); NAC=1.16 mmol/l (CI–1.12-1.20); p=.0143] Although insulin resistant persons of African descent who have an abnormal weight have less severe dyslipidemia compared to other race/ethnic groups in the USVI, this difference is not seen among those who are normal weight, but still insulin resistant.