Elevation of serum thioredoxin levels in patients with type 2 diabetes

To evaluate the clinical significance of thioredoxin in diabetic patients, serum thioredoxin levels measured with a recently established sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit were compared with clinical laboratory data and complications in 174 patients with Type 2 diabetes. Thioredoxin levels were significantly higher in diabetic patients (mean value, 38 ng/ml) than in healthy controls (21 ng/ml) (p < 0.05). Fasting blood sugar and hemoglobin A1c did not correlate with thioredoxin. Plasma non-esterified fatty acids levels were significantly higher in patients with higher thioredoxin levels (>or= 40 ng/ml) than in those with lower thioredoxin levels (< 40 ng/ml) (p < 0.001). There was a significant correlation both between thioredoxin and non-esterified fatty acids in patients with diet/exercise therapy (p < 0.01) and between thioredoxin and fasting immunoreactive insulin in those treated with diet/exercise or oral hypoglycemic agents (p < 0.05). Thioredoxin did not correlate with diabetic complications. In conclusion, serum thioredoxin levels may reflect the status of insulin resistance in Type 2 diabetic patients.