ABSTRACT
The aim of this work was to study the possible physiological role of adiponectin and resistin as mediators linking obesity and insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Seventy-five female Egyptian subjects were enrolled in this study. They were divided into four groups as follows: obese nondiabetics [ONDM], obese diabetic type 2 [0DM], nonobese nondiabetic [NONDM] and nonobese diabetic [NODM]. Anthropometric measurements were taken. Abdominal ultrasound was also done to measure visceral fat [VF], subcutaneous fat [SCF] and visceral fat index [VFI]. Fasting blood samples were taken for analysis of serum insulin, blood glucose, plasma adiponectin and resistin. In the diabetic group adiponectin had an inverse correlation with resistin,VF and VFI [P < 0.01, P < 0.05, P < 0.01]. Resistin had a weak positive correlation only with VF, [P = 0.05] and RAI [resistin /adiponectin index] showed a positive correlation with VFI and SCF. In the nondiabetics adiponectin had no correlation with resistin, but had negative correlation with HOMA, age, VF and VFI, whereas resistin had no correlation with the same variables. RAI had a positive correlation with HOMA and SCF. In conclusion it can be said that resistin has no direct relation to insulin resistance either in diabetics or non diabetics. However, it may have a weak relation to visceral obesity only in diabetics. Hypoadiponectinemia is related to visceral obesity and increased resistin level in diabetics, while in non diabetics it is related to visceral obesity, insulin resistance and age. RAI is more informative than resistin which indicates a possible interaction between resistin and adiponectin especially in diabetics. RAI correlates positively with some anthropometrics but not to insulin resistance in diabetics, while it correlates positively with both variables in non diabetics