Effect of circulating ceramides on adiposity and insulin resistance in patients with type 2 diabetes: An observational cross‐sectional study

Abstract

Introduction Insulin resistance (IR) is one of the common chronic metabolic disorders in Africa and elsewhere. Accumulation of lipids in the body may be due to an imbalance in the metabolism of lipids, glucose and proteins. Ceramides are a sphingolipid class of lipids that are biologically active and vital in the production of more complex lipids. Circulating ceramides are thought to have a role in the development of obesity‐related IR, although the precise involvement remains unclear. Aim To investigate the impact of circulating ceramide on IR and body adiposity in people with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methodology The study was observational and cross‐sectional. There were a total of 84 volunteers with T2DM and 75 nondiabetics (control). The participants' ages, body mass indexes (BMI), waist circumferences, and blood pressure (BP) were among the clinical parameters assessed. Ceramide levels, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), lipids, basal insulin levels and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) were also measured. Additionally, the homeostatic model assessment for IR (HOMA‐IR) and beta cell function (HOMA‐β) were computed. Results T2DM and control participants had different mean values for anthropometric parameters, BP, FPG, HbA1c, lipids, insulin, HOMA‐IR, HOMA‐β and ceramide levels (p < .05 for all). HOMA‐IR, HOMA‐β and cardiovascular risk were significant correlates with ceramide levels in the T2DM group (r = 0.24; −0.34; 0.24, p < .05, respectively). Further, FPG (OR = 1.83, p = .01) and ceramide (OR = 1.05, p = .01) levels were significant predictors of IR in the case group. Conclusion Patients with T2DM exhibited high ceramide concentrations, which, when combined with high FPG, were associated with IR. The consequences of circulating ceramides in health and disease; however, merit further research.

Impact of Lipids on Insulin Resistance: Insights from Human and Animal Studies

“…Ceramide, a type of fat in cells, has been linked to lipid-mediated skeletal muscle IR. 97–99 Research has shown that individuals with T2DM have higher blood levels of ceramide, 100 which is associated with IR, insulin sensitivity, and cardiovascular risk. 101 This is consistent with a previous study showing obese and diabetic patients have higher levels of ceramide in their muscles.…”

Comparative Determination of Mitochondrial Biomarkers and Their Relationship With Insulin Resistance in Type 2 Diabetic Patients: An Observational Cross‐Sectional Study

“…The body fat percentage was calculated using the subsequent formula. The formula applied to men was 0.567 × WC + 0.101 × age (years) – 31.8, while for females, the formula was 0.438 × WC + 0.221 × age (years) – 9.4 [ 16 , 17 ]. After 20 min of rest, the participant's blood pressure (BP) was measured in the left arm using an automated BP monitor (OMRON Healthcare Company Limited, Kyoto, Japan) while maintaining a seated position.…”

Circulating Sphingolipids and Glucose Homeostasis: An Update

“…Indeed, studies have already shown that incubations of various insulin-responsive cells with exogenous short-chain ceramides (C2-ceramides) lead to insulin resistance [ 64 , 65 , 66 , 67 , 68 , 69 , 70 , 71 ], suggesting that an extracellular supply of ceramides may also be deleterious to the cell and may play an additive role to that of de novo produced ceramides. Thus, although increased intracellular ceramide concentrations have been associated with the onset and the development of metabolic diseases, this may not be exclusively due to intracellular de novo ceramide synthesis since several other studies have also demonstrated strong correlations between elevated circulating ceramides and insulin resistance and T2D [ 43 , 72 , 73 , 74 , 75 , 75 , 76 , 77 , 78 ].…”