Hypertriglyceridaemia and reduced HDL-cholesterol concentrations are the prominent features of the atherogenic dyslipaemia commonly observed in insulin-resistance states [1,2] and Type II (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus [3±6]. Severe hypertriglyceridaemia is not uncommon in Type II diabetes [7,8] but its prevalence and mechanism are not clearly established. Mild hypertriglyceridaemia in Type II diabetes is dependent upon glucose control and nutritional factors such as intake of carbohydrates and alcohol. Genetic factors might, however, determine individual susceptibility to major hypertriglyceridaemia. Although VLDL hepatic overproduction is well documented in Type II diabetes, genetic defect in the clearance of the triglyceride-rich Diabetologia (2000) Abstract Aims/hypothesis. Hypertriglyceridaemia is common in Type II (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus. Only subgroups of patient however have type V hyperlipidaemia. To investigate the coordination between genetic factors in the modulation of hypertriglyceridaemia in Type II diabetes, we studied three major modifier loci: apoC-III (both Sst-I and insulinresponsive element polymorphisms), apolipoprotein E genotypes and lipoprotein-lipase mutations. Methods. We studied apoCIII gene polymorphisms, apolipoprotein E genotypes and lipoprotein-lipase gene mutations in 176 patients with Type II (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus, either normolipaemic (group N, n = 116), mildly hypertriglyceridaemic (group T, n = 28) or with a history of severe hypertriglyceridaemia (triglyceride > 15 g/l) (group H, n = 32). Results. Mild hypertriglyceridaemia in Type II diabetes did not associate with any gene variants in this study. Severe hypertriglyceridaemia was, however, associated with the presence of the apoC-III S2 allele (50 % of the patients in group H compared with 15.5 % in group N, p < 0.0001). Additionally this particular phenotype was associated with a low prevalence of the apo E3 allele (35.9 % in group H vs 18.1 % in group N, p < 0.005) and a statistically significant over-representation of the E2E4 genotypes. Inactivating lipoprotein-lipase mutations were found in four patients (three heterozygotes, one homozygote), none was found in group N or T. Thus 68.7 % of group H patients (22/32) (vs 21.4 % in group T, p < 0.0005) were carriers of either S2 allele, lipoprotein-lipase mutants or E2E4 genotype with most lipoprotein-lipase mutants or E2E4 genotypes or both in the non-carriers for the S2 allele (6/7). Conclusion/interpretation. Our results strongly support the hypothesis that severe hyperlipaemia in Type II diabetes crucially depends on genetic factors which impair the clearance of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins.