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Changes Over Time in Uric Acid in Relation to Changes in Insulin Sensitivity, Beta-Cell Function, and Glycemia
Alessandro Volpe1, Chang Ye1, Anthony J Hanley1,2,3
1Leadership Sinai Centre for Diabetes, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Canada.
The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
|November 14, 2019
Summary
Serum uric acid levels do not correlate with changes in insulin sensitivity or beta-cell function over time. This study provides evidence against a causal role for uric acid in the development of type 2 diabetes.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Metabolic Health
- Diabetes Pathophysiology
Background:
- Serum uric acid is associated with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) risk, but its causal role remains debated.
- It is unclear if uric acid levels influence key T2DM determinants like insulin resistance and beta-cell dysfunction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of serum uric acid changes over two years on insulin sensitivity, beta-cell function, and glycemia.
- To evaluate these associations in women with and without recent gestational diabetes (GDM) as a model for early T2DM development.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study of 299 postpartum women (96 with recent GDM) at 1 and 3 years postpartum.
- Assessed serum uric acid, insulin sensitivity (Matsuda index, HOMA-IR), beta-cell function (ISSI-2, IGI/HOMA-IR), and glucose tolerance via oral glucose tolerance tests.
Main Results:
- Women with recent GDM had higher uric acid and poorer metabolic profiles (lower insulin sensitivity, impaired beta-cell function, higher glycemia) at both 1 and 3 years postpartum.
- Serum uric acid at 1 year, or its change from 1 to 3 years, was not independently associated with metabolic outcomes at 3 years postpartum after adjustment.
Conclusions:
- Serum uric acid levels do not track with longitudinal changes in insulin sensitivity, beta-cell function, or glycemia.
- Findings suggest serum uric acid may not play a causal role in the pathophysiology of T2DM.
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