Aim To observe the changes of plasma lipid and apolipoprotein levels in subjects aged over 40 with im-paired glucose tolerance.Methods 53 subjects whose fasting blood sugar(FBS)<6. 11 mmol/L and 2 h postprandial BS≥6. 66mmol/L were selected as the impaired glucose toler-ance (IGT) group: 27 subjects whose FBS<6.11mmol/L and 2 h postprandial BS<6. 66 mmol/L wereselected as control group. Oral glucose tolerance test and insulin release test were performed by routine methods. Plasma glucose and lipids such as triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC) and high densitylipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC) were measured by en-zyme methods. The plasma low density lipoproteincholesterol (LDLC) was determined by calculation.Plasma insulin was measured by radioimmunoassay.Plasma apolipoproteins were measured by radial im-munodiffusion methods.Results The body mass index (BMI), FBS and fasting plasma insulin of the two groups were statistically the same (P>0. 05). 2 h postprandial BS of IGT group was 47.9%, and 2 h postprandial insulin was 69. 8% higher than those of the control group (P<0.05 and P<0.01). The serum levels of TG and TC of IGT group were significantly higher than those of the control group (P<0. 01 and P<0.05). To some extent but not statistically, HDLC was lower,LDLC was higher than those of the control group. The serum apo CII, CIII and E levels of IGT group were statistical-ly higher than those of the control group (P<0. 01, P<0. 001and P<0. 005). To some extent but not statistically, apo B was higher and apo AI was lower than those of the controlgroup.Conclusion Plasma lipid changes of subjects aged over 40 with impaired glucose tolerance are similar todiabetic dyslipoproteinemia and these changes may berelated to the changes of plasma insulin.