Correlation between serum levels of adipose triglyceride lipase and obesity and diabetes mellitus

Objective To investigate the relationship among serum adipose triglyceride lipase(ATGL) levels and glucose and lipid metabolism in patients with obesity and newly-diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM). Methods Sixty-six patients with T2DM(T2DM group) and forty-eight subjects with normal glucose regulation (NGR group) were selected from August 2006 to April 2009 in clinic and Department of Endocrinology of the Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University. Each group was divided into obese(OB group) and normal weight(NW group) subgroups according to whether the body mass index (BMI) ≥25 kg/m2. By using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) methods, the changes of serum levels of ATGL were measured. Meanwhile, fasting blood glucose (FBG), lipids and fasting insulin levels were also measured. BMI and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) were evaluated and insulin sensitivity was assessed by HOMA-insulin resistance(HOMA-IR). t-test, rectilinear correlation analysis and multiple stepwise regression analysis were used for data analysis. Results (1)The serum ATGL levels of obese subjects were lower than the normal weight group in both NGR and T2DM group (T2DM-OB group vs T2DM-NW group: (239±61)vs (355±54)μg/L, NGR-OB group vs NGR-NW group: (242±60)vs (383±58)μg/L), and the differences were statistically significant(t=22.53, 8.23, both P<0.05). (2)Correlation analysis showed that the serum ATGL level was negatively correlated with Fat%, BMI, WHR, triglycerides and HOMA-IR(r value was -0.271, -0.238, -0.375, -0.313, -0.164, respectively, all P<0.05). Multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that WHR, FAT% were independent factors for serum ATGL. Conclusions The serum ATGL levels in obese patients are significantly lower than those of normal weight. ATGL is independently associated with WHR and FAT%, but no significant correlation with blood glucose. Key words: Diabetes mellitus; Obesity; Lipase