Low pancreatic lipase in insulin-dependent diabetics

Serum samples obtained from 20 insulin-dependent diabetics (IDD), 23 non-insulin-dependent diabetics (NIDD) and 30 controls were assayed for their pancreatic lipase activity, immunoreactive trypsin concentration and glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA₁) respectively. The distribution of serum pancreatic lipase activity in normal subjects and diabetics was non-parametric. The median serum lipase activity in IDDs (86 U/l) was significantly lower than that in controls (131 U/l, p < 0.002) and NIDDs (126 U/l, p < 0.001). There was a significant correlation between serum pancreatic lipase activity and serum IRT concentration (r = 0.65, p < 0.001). Neither pancreatic lipase activity nor IRT was related to HbA₁ concentrations. These data show for the first time that serum pancreatic lipase activity is diminished in IDDs.