Effects of Metformin &/or Glimepiride on Resistin Level and Related Biochemical Markers in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

Resistin is a novel adipocyte-secreted hormone proposed to link obesity with diabetes in mice and may play a similar role in human. The aim of our study was to examine the relationship of serum resistin level to insulin resistance, and related parameters. Also to evaluate the effect of metformin &/or glimepiride on resistin level and glycemic control in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM).
This is an open-label, randomized study carried out on 50 newly diagnosed type 2 diabetic patients and 20 healthy subjects. Patients were randomly divided into three groups and assigned for treatment with either metformin or glimepiride or both for 12 weeks. The comparisons were conducted between pre- and post-treatment for fasting serum glucose (FSG), glycocylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), fasting serum insulin (FSI), insulin resistance (IR), body mass index (BMI) and serum resistin level.
At week 12, FSG, HbA1c and IR were significantly decreased in all groups. Resistin level decreased only in glimepiride group. Serum insulin levels show no significant change.
Metformin significantly decreased while glimepiride significantly increased BMI. In ourstudy serum resistin level did not correlate with markers of adiposity or diabetes.
Circulating resistin is unlikely to play a major role in obesity, insulin resistance, or energy homeostasis in human and only glimepiride monotherapy showed an effect on resistin level after 3 months of treatment.