Abstract
This case-control study was aimed to investigate the association between elevated liver enzymes and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Yemeni patients. This present study comprising 142 T2D patients and 142 healthy control subjects were recruited from the diabetic outpatient clinic of Ibn-Sina Hospital in Mukalla during the period from 1st January to 30th May 2020. Serum fasting blood glucose (FBG), total cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) were analyzed using the Cobas Integra Plus 400 autoanalyzer. Anthropometric and blood pressure measurements were taken from each participant. T2D patients had significantly higher FBG (P ≤ 0.0001), total cholesterol (P ≤ 0.0001), LDL-C (P ≤ 0.0001), and GGT (P ≤ 0.0001) while, HDL-C was significantly lower in T2D patients (P= 0.021). Serum ALT and GGT levels were significantly associated with increased incident T2D risk (P= 0.006 for ALT and 0.022 for GGT), and the odds ratios at 95% CI comparing the highest versus lower tertiles of ALT and GGT were 2.75(2.01-3.48) and 1.17(1.83-6.42) respectively. In conclusion, markedly elevated ALT and GGT are positively associated with increased blood glucose levels and are used as predictive biomarkers for developing a higher risk of diabetes. Thus, routine screening of ALT and GGT in T2D patients is recommended for the early detection of liver disorders.
Highlights
Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder characterized by chronic hyperglycemia, which results from defective insulin action and secretion or both [1]
The study group was subdivided into two groups: 142 healthy control subjects composed of 51 males and 91 females, and 142 T2D patients composed of 64 males and 78 females T2D patients were those who reported being diagnosed with T2D
The incidence of diabetes is increasing worldwide and its prevalence is higher in developing countries, no studies have examined the relationship between elevated liver enzymes and T2D risk in Yemeni patients
Summary
Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder characterized by chronic hyperglycemia, which results from defective insulin action and secretion or both [1]. Previous data have documented liver disease is a major cause of morbidity and mortality of type 2 diabetes patients [2,3]. Research indicates that diabetes is associated with several liver diseases. Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is the scope of chronic liver disease in patients with T2D [5], which is characterized by excess deposition of fat in the liver and associated with hepatic insulin resistance (IR) [3] and T2D risk [5]. ALT has been considered a specific marker of liver injury, as found in high concentrations in hepatocytes [6], while GGT is present on the surface of most cell types and highly active in the liver, pancreas, and kidneys [7]. GGT is responsible for the extracellular glutathione catabolism and may be linked to oxidative stress [8] and chronic inflammation [9]; both oxidative stress and chronic inflammation are important pathways for hepatic IR and subsequently T2D development [10]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
