“Prospective Study on Fetuin-A and Adiponectin in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Correlations with HbA1c, C-Reactive Protein, Insulin, and Waist Circumference”

Abstract

Background: Recent evidence highlights significant associations between fetuin-A and, adiponectin, characterized by hyperglycemia, central obesity, and insulin resistance. Notably, these two proteins exhibit opposing biological functions.

Objective: To assess prospective correlations between Fetuin-A, Adiponectin, and metabolic/inflammatory markers in T2DM patients.

Methods: The present prospective case-control study was conducted over 160 newly diagnosed T2DM patients and compare with age-matched apparently 160 healthy subjects. Insulin levels were quantitated by the electrochemiluminescence method. Serum C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations were detected by the rate nephelometry assay. Serum levels of fetuin-A and adiponectin were determined by an ELISA method. Unpaired t-test was employed for the numerical investigational data, chi-squared test for categorical data, and Pearson’s correlation for the correlation analysis.

Results: The mean age of cases (53.77 ± 9.40 years) was significantly higher than that of controls (52.42±9.30 years) (p =0.198). Cases had higher levels of CRP (5.46 ± 2.00 mg/L), Fetuin-A (812.24 ± 100.54 µg/mL), and Fetuin-A/Adiponectin ratio (163.14 ± 41.51) compared to controls (2.54 ± 1.00 mg/L, 650.81 ± 82.61 µg/mL, and 74.83 ± 16.67, respectively) (p < 0.001 for all). Conversely, Adiponectin levels were significantly lower in cases (5.21 ± 1.12 µg/mL) compared to controls (8.95 ± 1.41 µg/mL) (p < 0.001). Adiponectin showed strong negative correlations with waist circumference (r = -0.462), HbA1c (r = -0.750), insulin (r = -0.550), and CRP (r = -0.548) (p < 0.001 for all). In contrast, fetuin-A and the fetuin-A/adiponectin ratio showed positive correlations with these markers, with fetuin-A/adiponectin ratio having the strongest correlation with HbA1c (r = 0.732) and CRP (r = 0.561).

Conclusion: The strong correlations between adiponectin and fetuin-A with HbA1c, CRP, insulin, and waist circumference underscore the potential role of these biomarkers in predicting and managing type 2 diabetes and its complications.