Insulin Sensitivity, Inflammation, and Basal Metabolic Rate in Adults with Sickle Cell Anemia

Chronic inflammation and elevated basal metabolic rate (BMR) are established features of sickle-cell anemia (SCA). However, there is little information on the possible impacts of these afore-mentioned features on glycemia and insulin sensitivity status of this group of people.

This study aims to determine the insulin sensitivity status as well the effect of BMR on glycemia in adults with SCA in steady state.

Fifty participants comprising 30 adults with SCA in steady state and 20 age- and gender-matched apparently healthy adults with hemoglobin genotype AA (HbAA) genotype that served as controls. Anthropometric and clinical indices were obtained using standard methods. After an overnight fast, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), and serum insulin levels were determined using the glucose oxidase method and ELISA, respectively. Indices of insulin sensitivity and β-cell function as well as BMR were appropriately calculated.

The mean fasting insulin resistance (IR) index, homeostatic model of assessment of IR (HOMA-IR) and of β-cell function (HOMA2-β%), and mean insulin level were significantly lower while the mean HOMA of insulin sensitivity (HOMA2-S%), quantitative insulin sensitivity check index, inverse of insulin sensitivity (1/FI), glucose-insulin ratio, C-reactive protein (CRP), and BMR was significantly higher in patients with SCA compared with the controls. The mean FPG and insulin levels and the mean values of indices of insulin sensitivity and secretion were not significantly different in SCA patients with elevated BMR compared with SCA patients with lower BMR. In addition, BMR had no significant correlation with FPG and HOMA-IR in patients with SCA.

Despite the established chronic inflammation in SCA patients in steady state, they seem to have better insulin sensitivity status but impaired β-cell activity when compared with adults with HbAA. Furthermore, BMR does not have any pronounced effect on glycemic and insulin sensitivity status in SCA patients in steady state.