Cholesterol efflux to total plasma and apoB-depleted plasma. THP-1 cells were loaded with [3H]cholesterol and incubated for 4 h at 37°C with total plasma (1% vol/vol; A) or apoB-depleted plasma (1% vol/vol; B), obtained before and after VLCD from 27 obese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Cholesterol efflux rate is calculated by dividing 3H-activity in the medium by the sum of the 3H-radioactivity in the medium and cell extract. Data are means ± SEM. P values are calculated using paired Student t test. ***P < 0.001 as compared with baseline.