A case-control study on the prevalence of depression and its biomarkers in Type 2 diabetes mellitus patients

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a common metabolic disease that impacts patients' physical and mental well-being and is frequently linked to concomitant depression. This study aimed to explore prevalence the co-occurrence of depression in T2DM patients and investigate the potential biomarkers involved in this comorbidity, particularly focusing on Claudin-5, Interleukin-10 (IL-10), Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and haptoglobin.

This prospective case-control study was conducted at a single centre in New Delhi, India. A total of 200 participants (100 T2DM patients and 100 healthy controls) were recruited. Clinical assessments included anthropometric measurements, biochemical tests, and depression assessment. Quality of life (QoL) was evaluated using the SF-36 Health Survey. Serum levels of biomarkers Claudin-5, IL-10, BDNF, and haptoglobin were measured using ELISA.

Mild depression was more common in the T2DM group (57%) than in the healthy controls (p < 0.001). According to biochemical examination, the T2DM group had lower levels of BDNF and higher levels of haptoglobin, IL-10, and Claudin-5 (p < 0.001). In terms of overall health opinions, mental health, social functioning, and physical functioning, the T2DM group also reported noticeably lower QoL.

Biomarkers such as Claudin-5, IL-10, BDNF, and haptoglobin were altered in T2DM patients compared to controls. These findings lay the groundwork for biomarker-guided, integrative therapeutic strategies aimed at concurrently addressing metabolic dysregulation and mental health deterioration in diabetic patients. Prospective longitudinal studies are warranted to delineate causal pathways and to evaluate the predictive value of these biomarkers in larger, diverse populations.