The duration of diabetes is inversely associated with the physiological serum bilirubin levels in patients with type 2 diabetes.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between the duration of diabetes and the physiological serum bilirubin concentration in association with antioxidant properties in patients with type 2 diabetes.


METHODS
A total of 1,746 patients with type 2 diabetes were investigated in this cross-sectional study. An analysis of covariance was performed after adjusting for other covariates. Simple correlation analyses and a multivariate regression model were used to assess the association between the duration of diabetes and the serum bilirubin concentration.


RESULTS
The mean total bilirubin value differed significantly according to the tertile of diabetes duration (<5 years, 12.38 μmol/L, 95% confidence interval (CI) 12.02-12.76; 5-11.9 years, 12.33 μmol/L, 95% CI 11.97-12.69; ≥12 years, 11.73 μmol/L, 95% CI 11.35-12.11; p for trend =0.033), after adjustment for other covariates. In addition, an inverse correlation was found between the serum bilirubin concentration and diabetes duration (ρ=-0.211, p<0.001). According to a multivariate model, the association between the diabetes duration and serum bilirubin concentration remained significant, even after adjustment for confounding factors (β=-0.074, p=0.008).


CONCLUSIONS
The duration of diabetes is inversely associated with a serum bilirubin concentration within the physiologic range in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School, Republic of Korea.
Jin Ook
JO
Chung
Dong Hyeok
DH
Cho
Dong Jin
DJ
Chung
Min Young
MY
Chung
D000368:Aged; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000097:blood*; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001837:Body Weights and Measures; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors
D008055:Lipids; D001663:Bilirubin