SERUM ADIPONECTIN LEVELS IN TYPE 2 DIABETIC PATIENTS WITH HYPERTENSION IN ZARIA, NIGERIA

Oranye N. N. and *Anaja P. O.

ABSTRACT

Background: Hypertension commonly occurs in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Adiponectin, a recently discovered protein that is secreted by adipocytes has been demonstrated to have both antidiabetic and antiatherogenic properties. Recent studies have also described an association between adiponectin and hypertension; though results have been majorly inconsistent. This current study is aimed at evaluating the serum adiponectin levels in type 2 diabetics with hypertension in Zaria, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: Serum adiponectin, glycated haemoglobin, fasting plasma glucose and anthropometric parameters were measured in 90 type 2 diabetic and 90 apparently healthy (control) subjects. Adiponectin was measured using the ELISA method while glycated haemoglobin and fasting plasma glucose were measured using spectrophotometric methods. The results were statistically analysed using the two-tailed student’s t-test and the one way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and relationships investigated using Pearson’s correlation. Results: Values of serum adiponectin, glycated haemoglobin, fasting plasma glucose and body mass index (BMI) were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in type 2 diabetic subjects than similar values in the apparently healthy controls. Values were similar among the type 2 diabetic hypertensive and their non-hypertensive counterparts (P>0.05). Mean ± SEM values of serum adiponectin, glycated haemoglobin, fasting plasma glucose and BMI all showed no significant differences (P > 0.05) between the type 2 diabetic hypertensive and the type 2 diabetic non- hypertensive subjects. No significant differences in mean ± SEM values were also found in serum adiponectin, glycated haemoglobin, fasting plasma glucose and BMI across the classification of hypertension (P > 0.05), within both the type 2 diabetic hypertensive group and the few non - diabetic hypertensive controls. Pearson’s correlation found a significant negative relationships between adiponectin and hypertension (r = -0.192) and a significant positive relationship between hypertension and BMI (r = 0.297). Conclusion: Our results did not reveal any significant differences in mean values of adiponectin between the hypertensive and non-hypertensive type 2 diabetics in our environment. Further study is suggested with a larger sample size.

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