HDL in obese non-diabetic patients show major alterations in their function and thus their cardio-protective effects. These alterations could be explained by the quantitative and qualitative anomalies in the phospholipids and sphingolipids in the HDL. These molecules play a major role in HDL function and probably present early modifications in obesity, even before the onset of glycaemia deregulation.

The aim of this study is to show the presence of qualitative and quantitative modifications of phospholipids and sphingolipids in HDL from obese patients compared with HDL from non-obese controls.

Inclusion Criteria:

• aged > 18 years
• fasting glycaemia < 1.10 g/l
• waist circumference > 102 cm for men and 88 cm for women (criteria NCEP/ATP III)
• 2 criteria among the following 3 (NCEP/ATP III criteria for metabolic syndrome):
• triglyceridaemia ≥ 1.50 g/l
• HDL cholesterol < 0.40 g/l for men and 0.50 g/l for women
• arterial blood pressure ≥ 130/85 mmHg or treatment for arterial hypertension
• patients who have provided written consent INCLUSION CRITERIA FOR HEALTHY SUBJECTS
• age > 18 years
• fasting glycaemia < 1.10 g/l
• waist circumference < 102 cm for men and 88 cm for women
• triglyceridaemia < 1.50 g/l
• HDL cholesterol ≥ 0.40 g/l for men and 0.50 g/l for women
• Healthy subjects who have provided written consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Persons without national health insurance cover
• Diabetes
• Diseases that interfere with lipoprotein metabolism (dysthyroidism not controlled with the treatment, kidney or liver disease)
• Treatments that interfere with lipoprotein metabolism (lipid-lowering agents, oestrogens, corticoids, retinoids, antiretroviral agents)
• Pregnancy/breast feeding