Relationship between serum sulfatide and type 2 diabetes mellitus

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the role of sulfatide in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Methods A total of 54 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and 48 normal controls were enrolled in this investigation. For all the participants, height, body weight, waist circumference, and blood pressure were measured. Blood samples were collected for the testing of fasting plasma glucose, serum lipid profile, true insulin and sulfatide level. Results For the type 2 diabetes mellitus group, the levels of fasting plasma glucose, homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance(HOMA-IR), and sulfatide were significantly higher than those of the control group (t=9.216, 4.609, and 12.116, respectively; all P<0.05). HOMA-IR was positively correlated with body mass index, waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, and true insulin (r=0.348, 0.419, 0.368, 0.539, and 0.757, respectively), and negatively correlated with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (r=-0.533). However, sulfatide showed positive relationship with HDL-C (r=0.430), and negative correlation with body mass index, waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, and true insulin (r=-0.326, -0.363, -0.414, -0.342, -0.676, and -0.566, respectively). In multiple linear regression analysis, sulfatide (β=-48.651, P=0.000), gender (β=-0.933, P=0.002), and waist circumference (β=0.033, P=0.042) were independent predictors for HOMA-IR. Conclusions These data show a closer relationship between serum sulfatide and insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. Serum sulfatide may play an important role in the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Key words: Diabetes mellitus, type 2; Insulin; Sulfatide