Increased concentration of circulating visfatin associates with post-challenged hyperglycaemia and insulin resistance in IGT subjects

ObjectivesThe cytokine visfatin is increased in obesity and type 2 Diabetes; however, its role in the development of diabetes is still unsettled. The present study aimed to investigate the serum visfatin levels in prediabetic subjects.MethodsSeventeen subjects with Impaired Fasting Glucose (IFG), 44 Impaired Glucose Tolerant (IGT), 16 IFG-IGT and 51 healthy subjects were recruited. Fasting insulin and visfatin were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) techniques. The Insulin sensitivity Homeostasis Model Assessment (HOMA%S) and B-cell secretory capacity (HOMA%B) were estimated using HOMA-CIGMA software.ResultsHOMA%B was significantly lower in IFG (p = 0.0001) and IFG-IGT (p = 0.001) subjects. HOMA%S in IGT (p = 0.0001) and IFG-IGT (p = 0.001) subjects were significantly lower compared to controls. The fasting serum visfatin (ng/ml) level was significantly higher in IFG (5.08 ± 2.16, p = 0.0001), IGT (4.75 ± 2.81, p = 0.0001) and IFG-IGT subjects (4.33 ± 2.68, p = 0.013) compared to controls (2.60 ± 1.2). In binary logistic regression analysis, visfatin has found significantly associated with IFG (B = 0.198, p = 0.040), IGT (B = 0.162, p = 0.043) and IFG-IGT (B = 0.188, p = 0.044). Visfatin was also found significantly correlated with postprandial serum glucose and blood pressure in IGT subjects. Frequency of IFG, IGT and IFG-IGT subjects increased with increasing visfatin concentrations.ConclusionsSerum visfatin appear to be associated with IFG, IGT and IFG-IGT. Postprandial serum glucose and blood pressure are positively associated with visfatin levels in IGT subjects.