Endocrine Abstracts

Objectives: The prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is increasing rapidly with obesity being a major risk factor. Adipocytes, besides storing fat, release a number of adipokines. Our study explored the association of leptin and resistin released by adipocytes in the pathogenesis of T2DM in context of metabolic syndrome.

Methods: This was a cross sectional study in which we measured plasma levels of insulin, leptin and resistin in 50 healthy non-diabetic controls and 114 subjects with T2DM. Diagnostic variables for metabolic syndrome were measured, including: blood pressure, adiposity indices, lipid profile and fasting glucose. Homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was used to measure insulin resistance with 75th percentile value taken as cutoff point.

Results: Leptin strongly correlated with adiposity indices especially abdominal volume index, P<0.001. Resistin, however, did not show such correlation. In both genders, there was significant difference in the levels of insulin, HOMA-IR and resistin between control group and T2DM (P<0.01) and between controls and T2DM with metabolic syndrome (P<0.001). This relationship was not seen with leptin. Insulin resistance in males and females, as according to HOMA-IR level, was ≥3.7 and ≥3.8, respectively, and was significantly greater (P<0.01) in diabetics.

Conclusion: Leptin levels strongly correlate with and may be used as a potential marker of obesity. Resistin does not directly correlate with insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome. However, its significant rise in T2DM and metabolic syndrome groups as compared to controls cannot be ignored and require further studies.

Keywords: metabolic syndrome, adipokines, HOMA-IR, type 2 diabetes mellitus, Insulin resistance