Endocrine Abstracts

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), typically emerging in childhood, is an autoimmune condition where T cells destroy insulin-producing islet β cells in the pancreas. Chronic hyperglycemia from diabetes results in significant organ damage, including the kidneys, eyes, nerves, heart, and blood vessels. The study of plasma-free amino acids (PFAA) profiles in T1DM within the Jordanian population is scant and not well-documented. This research analyzed the PFAA profiles in Jordanian children with T1DM, involving 100 people with T1D and 100 control participants. Analytical assessments covered various amino acids (acidic, basic, aromatic, branched-chain, glucogenic, and ketogenic). Clinical examinations included BMI, blood pressure, fasting blood sugar (FBS), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and lipid profiles. Results indicate significant differences in FBS, HbA1c, LDL-c, and total cholesterol between diabetic and non-diabetic groups. Diabetics displayed elevated branched-chain amino acids (Ile and Leu), methionine, and arginine, while levels of glutamic acid, histidine, and phenylalanine were lower compared to non-diabetics. The analysis also revealed notable variations in other amino acids such as aspartic acid, serine, alanine, cysteine, tyrosine, phenylalanine, histidine, lysine, and arginine between groups, indicating altered amino acid metabolism associated with diabetes. Moreover, glucogenic and ketogenic amino acids significantly increased in the diabetic group, suggesting shifts in metabolic pathways. The study found strong positive correlations of specific amino acids with key clinical indicators. For instance, HDL levels correlated positively with isoleucine, cholesterol with tyrosine, and HbA1c with both isoleucine and histidine. These findings underscore the potential of PFAA profiling not only in understanding metabolic alterations in T1DM but also in enhancing early diagnosis and management of the condition. This expanded insight into the amino acid profiles provides a deeper understanding of the biochemical impacts of T1DM and offers avenues for targeted therapeutic strategies.