The correlation analysis between serum adiponectin level and liver fat content in patients with type 2 diabetes

Abstract

Objective To investigate the relationship between serum adiponectin level and liver fat content as well as other related clinical parameters in patients with type 2 diabetes. Methods A total of 108 patients newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in the Third Central Hospital of Tianjin were selected. According to the liver fat content, subjects were divided into type 2 diabetic patients with low liver fat content group (T2DM+ LFC group, n=50) and type 2 diabetic patients with high liver fat content group (T2DM+ HFC group, n=58). The related clinical indexes and serum adiponectin level were measured by high performance liquid chromatography, glucose oxidase method, radioimmunoassay or ELISA. Comparison between groups were using t test or χ2 test. Spearman correlation analysis and multiple stepwise regression analysis were used to determine the relationship between indexes. Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the risk factors of liver fat content. Results The level of serum adiponectin in T2DM+ HFC group was significantly lower than that in T2DM+ LFC group (t=3.947, P=0.006). The level of serum adiponectin was negatively correlated with body weight, body mass index, body fat, visceral fat area, liver fat content, and triglyceride in type 2 diabetic patients(r=-0.680--0.225, P<0.05 or 0.01). Stepwise regression indicated that body weight, body mass index and body fat content were independent correlated factors of serum adiponectin level. Logistic regression analysis showed that body weight (OR=1.288, 95% CI: 1.009-1.644), adiponectin(OR=0.169, 95% CI: 0.053-0.542), γ-glutamine transpeptidase (OR=1.155, 95% CI: 1.032-1.293) and triyglyceride (OR= 0.323, 95% CI: 0.172-0.609) were risk factors for liver fat content in patients with type 2 diabetes. Conclusion Level of serum adiponectin is affected by body weight, body mass index and body fat content, and may play an important role in lipid deposition in the liver of type 2 diabetic patients. Key words: Type 2 diabetes mellitus; Adiponectin; Insulin resistance; Fatty liver disease