Reduced serum resistin levels in diabetic patients: Study from western India

ObjectiveResistin is an adipocyte-derived peptide that might play a role in obesity and insulin resistance (IR); however, its role in humans is largely unknown. The aim of the study was to elucidate the role of serum resistin and explore its relationship with inflammatory marker C-reactive protein (CRP) and adipocytokine (leptin, adiponectin) in Indian diabetic patients.Design and methodsA total of 171 subjects including 41 controls, 41 obese and 89 Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients were recruited in this cross-sectional study. Fasting serum resistin, leptin, adiponectin, insulin and CRP were measured by enzyme immunoassay. The relation between these variables was studied by univariate and multiple regression analysis.ResultsSerum resistin levels were significantly reduced in non-obese treated T2DM patients. In the correlation analysis after controlling for age and BMI we found that resistin is significantly associated with leptin (0.687, p < 0.002) and CRP (0.549, p < 0.018) in only control females and with CRP (0.642, p < 0.01) in T2DM female patients. In multiple linear regression analysis resistin was independently predicted by the leptin (p < 0.01) and leukocyte (p < 0.004) in controls, treated T2DM patients.ConclusionReduced resistin and leptin levels in non-obese treated T2DM and significant association between these two in control and treated T2DM suggest interplay between these two adipocytokines. In addition, the weak association of resistin with diabetes indicates that it may be playing an indirect role in the pathogenesis of T2DM.