ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The association of serum prolactin (PRL) with diabetes is still uncertain, with a paucity of data in the south Indian population. This study aims to compare the serum PRL levels between type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients and normoglycaemic volunteers and correlate the serum PRL level with fasting plasma glucose (FPG), postprandial plasma glucose (PPG), glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) levels, and the lipid profile in the study population. METHODS: This was a comparative cross-sectional study among 112 T2DM participants and 112 healthy volunteers in a tertiary care centre in India. All participants were tested for FPG, PPG, HbA1c, fasting serum lipid profile, and serum PRL, which were compared between T2DM patients and healthy volunteers. RESULTS: The serum PRL in T2DM patients was significantly lower compared to healthy volunteers (8.67 ± 4.37 vs. 13.76 ± 6.55 ng/ml, P < 0.001). FPG, PPG, and HbA1c correlated inversely with serum PRL in our study population. On multivariable logistic regression adjusted for age and sex, a higher serum PRL level within the physiological range was protective for T2DM (adjusted odds ratio: 0.83, 95% CI: 0.77-0.90, P < 0.001). Serum PRL levels were inversely correlated with serum total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides, but not with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. CONCLUSIONS: A high serum PRL within the physiological range was inversely associated with the prevalence of T2DM in the south Indian population. Serum PRL also correlated inversely with glycaemic and blood lipid parameters. Larger longitudinal studies are required to further validate the association of serum PRL with various components of metabolic syndrome in the south Indian population.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Alcoholic liver disease affects almost all aspects of the thyroid gland including the thyroid hormone levels and the thyroid gland size. The altered thyroid hormone levels in alcoholic liver disease may affect alcohol abstinence in withdrawal period by changing hormone milieu in brain, increasing withdrawal dysphoria and increasing craving. AIM: The aim of the present study was to assess and compare the levels of thyroid hormones- free T3, free T4, Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) and Gamma Glutamyl Transferase (GGT) in chronic alcoholic liver disease patients before and after treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was conducted on 70 alcoholic liver disease patients. Two serum samples were taken from the patient once at the time of admission and the other at the time of discharge after atleast ten days of treatment. Serum free T3, free T4, TSH and GGT were assessed on auto analyzer Beckman Coulter. Statistical analysis is done by paired t-test and Pearson's Correlation test. RESULTS: In present study, serum GGT levels decreased significantly (before treatment-207.46±66.90 U/L; after treatment-78.47±19.71 U/L) and free T3 levels increased significantly with treatment (before treatment-2.54±0.48 pg/mL; after treatment-2.88±0.37 pg/mL). Free T4 levels are also increased with treatment (before treatment-0.78±0.19 ng/dL; after treatment-0.88±0.13 ng/dL) and TSH levels are not altered significantly with treatment (before treatment-3.34±1.62 µIU/mL; after treatment-3.32±1.51 µIU/mL). Additionally, free T3 showed a significant correlation with GGT before (p-value<0.001) and after treatment (p-value-0.003) and free T4 and TSH showed a significant correlation with GGT after treatment (free T4: p-value<0.001) (TSH: p-value <0.001) and a suggestive significance exists before treatment (free T4: p-value= 0.098) (TSH: p-value=0.062). CONCLUSION: Thyroid hormones levels, particularly free T3 and free T4, need to be evaluated in chronic alcoholic liver disease patients. Free T3 could be used as a marker of alcoholism and is very useful in assessing the treatment efficacy in chronic alcoholic liver disease. Also, assessing free thyroid hormones is necessary during the withdrawal and abstinent periods as decreased hormone levels may increase withdrawal effects and craving for alcohol.
