Aims Insulin is a potent stimulator of adipose tissue lipoprotein lipase (LPL). Logically, the postprandial period is therefore a privileged time of the day for the regulation of LPL by insulin in this tissue. It is not clear to what extent a defect such as insulin resistance could affect this regulation and contribute to postprandial, as well as fasting, hypertriglyceridaemia. The aim of the present protocol was to study the relationship between insulin resistance and LPL in adipose tissue and in plasma, in the particular context of the postprandial period.

Methods For this study, 26 adult nondiabetic individuals (12 women and 14 men) with a wide range of whole‐body insulin‐mediated glucose uptake (as assessed with an insulin suppression test) were studied. An abdominal subcutaneous fat biopsy on one occasion, and post‐heparin plasma on another occasion, were obtained 4 h into a standardized meal profile administered in the fasting state.

Results Postprandial triglyceride excursions (evaluated by the incremental area under the curve during the metabolic meal profile) were inversely correlated to adipose tissue LPL mRNA levels (ρ = −0·43, P < 0·03) as well as to adipose tissue LPL heparin‐releasable activity (ρ = −0·58, P < 0·01). Steady‐state plasma glucose (SSPG) concentrations during the insulin suppression test, a reflection of the degree of insulin resistance, were also negatively correlated to adipose tissue LPL mRNA (ρ = −0·50, P < 0·02) and activity (ρ = −0·56, P < 0·01). There was no correlation between plasma post‐heparin LPL activity/mass and postprandial triglycerides nor with insulin resistance.

Conclusion Regulation of adipose tissue LPL is significantly affected in insulin‐resistant individuals in the postprandial period. This presumed impaired effect of insulin on LPL postprandially could be an important contributor to the atherogenic dyslipidaemia described in insulin resistance syndrome.