Correlation of Serum and Urine Sialic Acid Levels with Lipid Profile and Anthropometric Indices in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Diabetic Nephropathy

Abstract

Introduction: Sialic acid is a component of vascular cell membranes; the elevated levels indicate excessive vascular damage leading to diabetic complications. Therefore sialic acid can be considered to be newly established potential risk factor for the development of diabetic nephropathy. Aims: To study the correlation between sialic acid levels with lipid profile and anthropometric variables in type 2 diabetes mellitus and type 2 diabetics with nephropathy. Study Design: Case control study Place and duration of study: study was conducted at department of biochemistry and department of medicine at aj institute of medical sciences, mangalore for a period of 2 years. Methodology: Study population included 75 subjects in the age group of 40-70 years out of whom 25 subjects were type 2 diabetics (newly diagnosed or known diabetics on treatment without any complications), 25 subjects were type 2 diabetics with nephropathy and 25 were age and sex matched normal controls. Serum and urine sialic acid, lipid profile and anthropometric variables were measured in study subjects. Results: Serum and urine sialic acid showed a positive correlation with total cholesterol triglycerides, ldl-c and body mass index (p value <0.001) which was statistically significant in both type 2 diabetics and diabetics with nephropathy when compared with controls. Serum and urine sialic acid showed a negative correlation with hdl-c(p value <0.001)  which was statistically significant in both type 2 diabetics and  diabetics with nephropathy  when compared with controls . Serum and urine sialic acid showed no correlation with waist hip ratio in both type 2 diabetics and type 2 diabetics with nephropathy. Conclusion: Low grade inflammation is implicated in the causation and progression of type 2 dm and its complcations. The estimation of serum and urine sialic acid will indicate tissue damage and thus aid early intervention in helping to prevent microvascular complications in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus.