Study of the lipidemic profile of diabetic patients. Negative correlation of cholesterol levels of diabetes type I patients with serum amylase concentration

Abstract

Diabetes Mellitus type I (DM1) and II (DM2) share the common characteristic of high blood glucose concentration and the health complications resulting from uncontrolled hyperglycemia such as hyperlipidemia, cardiovascular problems, stroke, ketoacidosis, kidney failure and blindness but have different etiology. DM1 is practically an autoimmune disease. Genetic susceptibility together with environmental factors leads to disease development. The main characteristics of Diabetes type II (DM2) is insulin resistance in muscle and liver cells accompanied by loss of β-cell function. However, adipose tissue, gastro-intestinal tract, pancreatic a-cell activity, may be involved in disease development. In parallel to the impairment of endocrine pancreatic function, a reduction in exocrine function has also been observed in all types of Diabetes Mellitus. A decrease in amylase and lipase activity has been mentioned by many authors, although cases with elevated amylase have been referred. Most recently a trend for positive correlation between HDL cholesterol and amylase in Diabetes type II patients was shown. In the present study we evaluated the lipidemic profile and related factors such as cortisol, total serum antioxidant capacity (TAC) and amylase in patients suffering from diabetes type I and II. The relationship between different parameters was examined. Blood serum from 20 DM1 patients and 45 DM2 patients was used. Serum from 50 healthy individuals was used as control. Total cholesterol and triglycerides were measured using an enzymatic colorimetric method. Serum cortisol, auto-antibodies and anti-Neu5Gc antibodies were measured using immunoenzyme assays and TAC measurement was made using the ABTS method. Mean total cholesterol was 245.5mg/dL in Diabetes I patients and was significantly elevated compared to healthy individuals as well as Diabetes II patients (168.71±76.0mg/dL). The observed difference was statistically significant (P=0.0004). On the contrary, triglyceride values were within normal range in both cases (123.7±63.2mg/dL in DM1 and 168.1±76.0mg/dL in DM2 patients). Cortisol levels were elevated in both cases with higher values observed in Diabetes type I (280.5±162.9ng/mL in DM1 and 248.5±100.1ng/mL in DM2), while total antioxidant capacity was significantly reduced compared to healthy individuals, 1.470mM, with lower values observed in Diabetes type I (0.680±0.116mM in DM1 and 0.849±0.126mM in DM2). Amylase determination revealed a mean amylase value, 81.7U/ml, within normal range and a negative correlation between cholesterol levels and amylase (r=-0.770) in DM1 patients. No correlation was observed between the determined values or the presence of autoantibodies and antibodies against Neu5Gc in the samples. In conlusion, the lipidemic profile and overall atherogenic and cardiovascular risk factors were worse in Diabetes I compared to Diabetes II patients. Most interestingly, cholesterol levels exhibited a negative correlation with serum amylase values. Since, amylase is not known to be involved in lipid metabolism, cholesterol levels and serum amylase activity may have a common modulator related to Diabetes development.