Assessment of biomarkers in type 2 diabetic subjects without any complications

Type 2-diabetes (T2D), is a public health problem which has reached epidemic proportions due to the rapidly increasing rates of this disease worldwide. It is known that adipose tissue can synthesize and release pro-inflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1, adiponectin and leptin that are associated with body fat mass. Hence comparing the biomarkers with individuals without hyperglycemia would help us to understand the level of increase in their values though the vascular complications have not begun.

This was a cross sectional study comprising 229 diabetic persons and 205 healthy individuals. High sensitivity reactive protein (hs-CRP) was estimated using nephelometry technique. Inflammatory markers and adiponectin were measured using ELISA instrument.

Tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) (40.56%) and Leptin (45.43%) were significantly increased in the diabetic group when compared with normal study population. Adiponectin was significantly decreased in diabetic study population (11.94%). This was supported by a significant correlation between the glycemic index HbA1c and TNF-α (r=0.376, p=0.01), adiponectin (r=-0.381, p=0.01) and leptin (r=0.269, p=0.01) in diabetic population, but the significance was lost among the normal healthy individuals.

The most promising biomarkers of diabetes such as TNF-α, adiponectin, leptin has shown a marked difference in this diabetic population. This study proves the assessment of these biomarkers as future predictors of type 2 diabetes.