DETERMINATION OF THE PLASMA CONCENTRATION OF THE PROTEIN PRODUCT OF THE OB GENE AND LIPID PROFILE IN BOSNIAN TYPE 2 DIABETIC INDIVIDUALS

Leptin is a hormone secreted from adipose tissue (AT) that plays important role in metabolism of carbohydrate, proteins, and lipids. Also, leptin and its receptors are key regulators of body weight and energy metabolism. Previous studies, demonstrated that plasma leptin improved glucose and lipid metabolisms independently of the food intake reduction by decreasing in blood glucose and insulin levels as well as triacylglycerol stores in the body. Objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between plasma leptin concentration and lipid profile in healthy and diabetic individuals. Twenty-six participants were recruited in the study, 13 newly diagnosed and non-treated Type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients and 13 healthy controls. Metabolic variables including glucose, glycated hemoglobin, lipids: total cholesterol, triacylglycerol, high density lipoprotein, low density lipoprotein and very low-density lipoprotein, and hormone concentrations leptin and insulin were measured. Plasma leptin concentration was an increased significantly (p<0.001) in diabetic patients compared to controls. Values of other biochemical characteristics were significant different between cases and controls (p<0.001). A significant association was demonstrated between leptin with BMI levels in participants (p<0.05) but not between leptin and lipid levels (p>0.05). Also, strong negative associations were observed between leptin and glucose levels among controls (p<0.009) as well a positive association leptin with HOMA-IS in diabetics (p<0.05). These results suggest that plasma leptin concentrations were affected by the increased levels of glucose, insulin and lipid profile in Bosnian study population. Therefore, leptin can be used as a biomarker of glucose and lipid control in newly diagnosed diabetic patients.