Glycogen storage disease type Ia (GSD Ia) is characterized by severe hypercholesterolaemia and hypertriglyceridaemia. Little
is known about the aetiology of the hyperlipidaemia in GSD Ia. Adipokines play an important regulatory role in lipid metabolism.
We investigated whether adipokine concentrations were correlated with the degree of hyperlipidaemia in GSD Ia patients. Six
patients with GSD Ia were studied in semi-fasted conditions. Adiponectin, but not leptin, correlated (
r
2 = −0.79,
p = 0.02) with plasma triglyceride concentrations in the GSD Ia patients. Leptin correlated well with BMI (
r
2 = 0.59,
p < 0.01). However, neither body mass index (BMI) nor homeostasis model assessment (HOMA), as a marker of insulin sensitivity,
correlated with triglyceride concentrations. Although a small number of patients were studied, these results indicate that
adiponectin concentrations are correlated with the degree of hypertriglyceridaemia in GSD Ia. Pharmacological treatment aimed
at increasing adiponectin levels might improve the metabolic status of these patients.
Communicating editor: Alberto Burlina
Competing interests: None declared
References to electronic databases: Glycogen storage disease type Ia, von Gierke disease: OMIM#232200.