Relationships between plasma lactate, plasma alanine, genetic variations in lactate transporters and type 2 diabetes in the Japanese population

Abstract

The present study aimed to characterize the relationships between plasma lactate, plasma alanine, monocarboxylate transporter (MCT) polymorphisms, and indices of diabetes in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) in Japan. Eighty-three patients with T2D were prospectively enrolled. The gluconeogenesis and glycogenolysis are enhanced and uptake of glucose is decreased in the T2D liver. Since the liver plays an important role in maintaining glucose metabolism, we examined the relationships between liver enzymes and indices of diabetes. Some studies have reported that MCT1 (SLC16A1) polymorphism causes metabolic diseases. In addition, a high frequency of MCT1 polymorphism was reported in a healthy Japanese population. However, little is known about the relationships between T2D and MCT polymorphisms. Plasma l-lactate concentration positively correlated with indices of diabetes (fasting plasma glucose [FPG] and hemoglobin A1c [HbA1c]) and with the liver enzymes alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (γ-GTP). MCT1 polymorphisms were associated with all of these markers. We identified no significant correlations between d-lactate or alanine concentrations and any of these markers, but a significant association was observed between l-lactate, a marker of oxidative capacity, and indices of diabetes. We conclude that plasma l-lactate concentration may represent a predictor of the progression or severity of T2D.