Peer‐counseling and inflammatory markers in Latinos diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Results from the DIALBEST trial

Abstract

Anthropometrics, cytokines [C reactive protein (CRP), interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), tumor necrosis alpha (TNF‐alpha)], leptin, adiponectin, plasma lipids and 24h dietary recalls were analyzed for Latino subjects diagnosed with type 2 diabetes recruited from the DIALBEST trial (n = 22 men and 60 women, 32‐76y). Parameters were measured at baseline (BL) and after 3 and 6 mo of intervention. Subjects were randomly assigned to a peer counseling (PC) or a control group (CG) receiving the standard of care from Hartford Hospital. There were no changes in macronutrient intake over time except for total and soluble fiber, which were increased between baseline and 6 mo by 7 and 12% in the PC group and decreased by 35 and 29%, respectively in the CG (P < 0.05). IL‐6 decreased by 20% in all subjects between baseline and 6 mo (P < 0.01). However, when the group was divided on the basis of statin use, only those subjects prescribed a reductase inhibitor decreased IL‐6 over time (p=0.01). No changes were observed in CRP, leptin, adiponectin or TNF‐alpha levels over time or between groups. There was a negative correlation between changes in HDL cholesterol and CRP between baseline and 6 months (r = ‐0.297, P < 0.05) and a positive correlation between adiponectin and HDL at 6 mo (r = 0.363, P < 0.01). The data suggest that both statins and HDL play an important role in improving inflammation in this population. In addition, PC did not affect inflammatory markers in this population. [Supported by NIH‐NCMHD EXPORT Center grant P20MD001765].