title: Serum adiponectin levels and enzyme markers of liver dysfunction in diabetic and non-diabetic Caribbean subjects.
abstract: Low adiponectin levels are associated with elevated plasma alanine aminotransferase, a marker of reduced hepatic insulin sensitivity and a risk factor for type 2 diabetes. This study aims to determine the relationship between serum adiponectin level and alanine aminotransferase in diabetic and non-diabetic subjects. Fifty-six type 2 diabetic patients and 33 non-diabetic subjects participate in the study. Baseline plasma concentrations of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase and glucose are measured on a chemistry analyser. Insulin and adiponectin are measured using enzyme-linked immunoassay techniques and insulin resistance is determined using the homeostatic model assessment method. Diabetic patients showed significantly lower levels of serum adiponectin than did the non-diabetic subjects, whereas levels of alanine aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase were similar in both groups. While female non-diabetic subjects showed higher serum adiponectin levels than did female diabetic patients, alanine aminotransferase level did not differ (P>0.05). No significant relationship was seen between adiponectin and alanine aminotransferase in diabetic and non-diabetic subjects (P>0.05). Serum adiponectin levels were higher in non-diabetic subjects but there was no significant correlation between adiponectin and alanine aminotransferase in both groups of subjects. The data suggest that low serum adiponectin level may not be a suitable marker for impaired liver function in diabetic patients.
authors.affiliation: Unit of Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, Trinidad. cezenwaka@fms.uwi.tt
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Ezenwaka
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kalloo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Uhlig
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schwenk
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Eckel
mesh_terms: D052242:Adiponectin / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000201:enzymology; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D052242:Adiponectin; D015415:Biomarkers; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin