Homocysteine levels and related factors with high homocystein levels in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients taking oral antidiabetic medication

Abstract

Objective: To investigate homocysteine and related factors in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus patients taking oral antidiabetic medication.

Material-Method: The study included type 2 diabetic patients who were taking oral antidiabetic medication and presented to Diabetes and Family Medicine outpatient clinic of MoH Ankara Training and Research Hospital in Sept. 2008 and Jan. 2009. Demographic and clinical data of patients were recorded. Weight, height, waist circumference were measured and body mass index (BMIs) were calculated. Glucose, urea, creatinine, uric acid, ALT, AST, lipid profiles, sodium, potassium, HbA1c, homocysteine, insulin, vitamin B-12, folic acid and urinary microalbumin were measured. HOMA-IR values were calculated.

Results: The mean age of patients was 50.1±9.5; 32.7% (n=18) was men and 67.3% (n=37) was women. While there was no significant difference between homocysteine and gender (p=0,162), menopausal state in women (p=0,103) and smoking (p=0,499); positive correlation between homocysteine and age, creatinine and uric acid, in women positive correlation between homocysteine and age, creatinine and uric acid, in premenopausal women positive correlation between homocysteine and age and negative correlation between homocysteine and ALT, in postmenopausal women positive correlation between homocysteine and age, BMI and uric acid were found. There was positive correlation between homocysteine and age and postprandial blood glucose in smokers. When set point of homocysteine was determined as 12 µmol/L, uric acid levels were close to be significantly higher in homocysteine ≥12 µmol/L group (p=0.053).

Conclusion: Homocysteine which is accepted as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease is seen important in diabetes which is especially a kind of cardiovascular disease itself. Considering the multiple factors that influence homocysteine, multi-center, large-scale, prospective studies are needed with correction of all factors.