Adipose tissue lipoprotein-lipase activity in obesity.

The activity of lipoprotein-lipase in heparin-eluates of adipose tissue (AT-LPLA) of three body regions was measured in 22 obese and 18 nonobese females under basal conditions. AT-LPLA in the obese women both before and after 10 d of caloric restriction was also measured. Basal LPLA correlated well with plasma insulin values and reduced significantly after caloric restriction. Relative body weight, body fat, fasting and glucose-stimulated insulin levels, triglycerides, total cholesterol, but not high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, significantly decreased after caloric restriction. Variation of insulin levels after caloric restriction was the best explanatory variable correlating with AT-LPLA variations. These results are consistent with a primary role of insulin in regulating AT-LPLA.