Epidemiology
Meta-analysis of 227,178 subjects finds the highest Lp(a) concentrations carry 37% lower risk of incident type 2 diabetes (Horm Metab Res 2024)
Original title: Low Concentration of Lipoprotein(a) is an Independent Predictor of Incident Type 2 Diabetes
This meta-analysis searched PubMed and Cochrane for randomised trials with event data on the relationship between low Lp(a) concentration and incident type 2 diabetes, pooling seven trials covering 227,178 subjects. Higher Lp(a) concentration was inversely associated with type 2 diabetes risk, with approximately 37% lower relative risk in the group with the highest Lp(a) concentration compared with the group with the lowest. The authors conclude that current prospective evidence supports low Lp(a) concentration as an independent predictor of incident type 2 diabetes, reinforcing that Lp(a)'s relationship with metabolic disease runs in the opposite direction to its relationship with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
Original abstract
The aim of the study was to assess the association between lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] concentration and incident type 2 diabetes. A meta-analysis of qualified studies on the relationship of low levels of Lp(a) concentration with incident type 2 diabetes was conducted. PubMed and Cochrane libraries were searched for randomized controlled trials containing data on events. Seven randomized trials with 227178 subjects were included in this analysis. We found an inverse association of the levels of Lp(a) concentration with risk of type 2 diabetes with approximately 37% lower relative risk in the group with the highest concentration compared with group with the lowest concentration. The current available evidence from prospective studies suggests that there is an inverse association between the levels of Lp(a) concentration and risk of type 2 diabetes, with a higher risk of type 2 diabetes at low levels of Lp(a) concentration. Therefore, we believe that the low levels of Lp(a) concentration is an independent predictor of incident type 2 diabetes.
Summary written by lp-a.org from the published abstract; figures as published. Page updated 18 August 2026. Methods.