Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: The increased insulin resistance seen in Type 2 diabetic patients has been shown to be associated with abdominal fat accumulation, hypertension, and dyslipidaemia. The dyslipidaemia is characterized by raised serum triglycerides and decreased high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) levels. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between abdominal fat, lipid and adipokine secretion in South African type 2 diabetic patients of Indian and African origin.

Methods: Plasma and serum samples were collected from 20 African and 20 Indian diabetic females. Adipokines were measured using ELISA kits. Fasting plasma glucose, serum cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, and triglycerides were assayed on the ROCHE MODULAR System. Insulin resistance was calculated using HOMA. CT-scans were performed to measure abdominal visceral and subcutaneous fat areas.

Results: Data presented as mean values±SEM. The results for diabetic African (DA) and diabetic Indians (DI), respectively were as follows: Leptin (ng/ml) 40.6±2.49 and 43.6±2.1, soluble leptin receptor (U/ml) 21.0±1.71 and 20.5±1.7, IL-6 (pg/ml) 3.15±0.58 and 3.87±1.08, TNF-alpha (pg/ml) 7.06±1.38 and 2.26±0.42 (P=0.003), CRP (mg/l) 11.4±3.09 and 8.97±1.58, cholesterol (mmol/l) 4.78±0.22 and 5.24±5.24, HDL (mmol/l) 1.17±0.05 and 1.76±0.4, and triglyceride (mmol/l) 1.41±0.11 and 2.11±0.36, respectively. HOMA results for DI were 7.54±0.74 and for DA 6.56±1.26 (P=0.507). The visceral fat area was higher in diabetic Indian 117.47±9.94 compared to African diabetic patients 93.85±6.22 (P=0.044). No difference in BMI was noted between the groups.

Conclusions: Although visceral fat area is higher in diabetic Indian than diabetic African patients this seems to have no influence on adipokine levels. However, it may influence triglyceride metabolism.