A Case of Massive Hypertriglyceridaemia and Impaired Fatty Acid Incorporation Into Adipose Tissue Glycerides (Fiat), Both Corrected by Nicotinic Acid

A case of massive chylomicronaemia with fasting plasma triglyceride levels around 100 mmol/1 and normal postheparin lipoprotein lipase activity (LLA) has been studied. To investigate other possible mechanisms for the hypertriglyceridaemia than reduced LLA, we have attempted to evaluate the capacity of adipose tissue to assimilate fatty acids split off from plasma triglycerides by LLA by studying the incorporation rate of fatty acids into adipose tissue (FIAT). Adipose tissue incubated in vitro showed a lowered FIAT. Also the incorporation of medium glucose into glyceride glycerol (GLIAT) was low compared to control subjects. After two months' treatment with nicotinic acid, when plasma triglyceride levels had fallen to nearly normal levels, FIAT and GLIAT had increased about 3–6‐fold and were then in the range of the control subjects. The role of the capacity of adipose tissue for assimilation of fatty acids split off from plasma triglycerides in regulating uptake of triglyceride fatty acids from the blood is discussed.