Serum resistin, adiposity and insulin resistance in Saudi women with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Abstract

BACKGROUNDThe role of adipocyte hormones in modulating insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance are of increasing interest and importance in studies of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Recently a unique signaling molecule, resistin, has been proposed as playing a role in the pathogenesis of obesity-related insulin resistance, but its relevance to human diabetes remains uncertain. Therefore, we assessed the relationship between serum resistin concentrations and insulin resistance in lean, overweight and obese (OW/OB) non-diabetic and diabetic Saudi women.SUBJECTS AND METHODSWe measured fasting serum resistin levels in 44 diabetic women with a mean body mass index (BMI) of 31.82±4.35 kg/m2, 21 OW/OB non-diabetic women with a mean BMI 30.71±3.42 kg/m2 and in 24 lean women with a mean BMI of 23.33±1.24 kg/m2. Insulin resistance was assessed using the homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance formula derived from fasting insulin and glucose levels.RESULTSThe concentrations of fasting serum resistin showed significant differences among the three groups (P<0.001). Mean serum resistin concentrations increased from lean (11.59± 2.08) to OW/OB non-diabetic (16.29±2.29) to diabetic (19.42±3.60 ng/mL) women. Significantly higher levels of glucose (P<0.001) and values for the homeostasis model assessment ratio (HOMA-R) (P<0.01) occurred in the diabetic compared to the lean and OW/OB non-diabetic subjects. Furthermore, resistin correlated significantly and positively with hip circumferences (r=0.39, P=0.039), weight (r=0.51, P=0.005), insulin (r=0.40, P=0.033), HOMA-R (r=0.49, P=0.007) and glucose (r=0.39, P=0.038) in diabetic women. In OW/OB non-diabetic subjects, resistin correlated with insulin (r=0.59, P=0.015) and HOMA-R (r=0.616, P=0.011). No correlation was observed with glucose, height, hip, waist, weight, and waist-hip ratio (WHR) in the lean and OW/OB non-diabetic groups.CONCLUSIONResistin concentrations are elevated in patients with type 2 diabetes and are associated with obesity and insulin resistance. These data indicate that resistin might be involved in the development of diabetes in humans.

Relationship between Obesity, Adipocytokines and Inflammatory Markers in Type 2 Diabetes: Relevance for Cardiovascular Risk Prevention

“…Several studies showed that increased resistin in T2D was not associated with markers of insulin resistance [22,23,55]. In contrast, Silha [56] as well as Al Harithy [57] reported the same results as we did, of a significant correlation between elevated resistin levels and the HOMA-IR index in patients with T2D. Our results show that in T2D patients elevated resistin levels are more related to the diabetic state and IR than to total adiposity.…”

Leptin, resistin and visfatin: the missing link between endocrine metabolic disorders and immunity

“…Apart from the diabetes, leptin also affects a variety of other physiological functions, including fertility, bone metabolism, and immune responses [113]. …”

Total and High-Molecular-Weight Adiponectin and Resistin in Relation to the Risk for Type 2 Diabetes in Women

“…Initial experimental studies in rodents pointed to an important role of resistin as a mediator of obesity-associated insulin resistance (22). While the majority of recent animal studies further supports this hypothesis, the physiological relevance of resistin for obesity-related conditions in humans remains controversial (4), and inference from most human studies was limited by cross-sectional design and small sample size (23–33). …”