ABSTRACT
Hormones are important factors in the regulation of the lipoprotein metabolism and lipoprotein levels in serum. Oral steroid hormones, estrogens and progestins, either in contraceptives or not, influence the serum high density lipoproteins levels. Insulin has both direct effects on plasma lipoproteins and lipoprotein metabolism and it may mediate the influence of other factors, examples, diet and other hormones. The effect of insulin on plasma lipoproteins in man has often been studied in diabetes. Glucocorticoids are known to decrease low density lipoproteins fraction of lipoproteins while total triglyceride concentration and very low density lipoproteins concentration are elevated. Increased levels of plasma immunoreactive insulin, glucose, and free fatty acids were present both at fasting and after intravenous glucose load after glucocorticoid administration, while no changes in the postheparin serum lipolytic activity. Serum corticotropin may have its effects indirectly mediated by the changes in glucocorticoid secretion.
