Relationship between circulating netrin-1 levels, obesity, prediabetes and newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes

Background Netrin-1 is presumed to have regenerative, angiogenic and anti-inflammatory properties, thus it could play a substantial role in the development of insulin resistance and T2DM. Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between serum netrin-1 levels and carbohydrate disturbances in patients with obesity. Methods Sample size consisted of 163 patients, divided into four groups: obesity without carbohydrate disturbances prediabetes and diabetes and healthy controls Netrin-1 level was determined using ELISA method. Results Circulating serum Netrin-1 was significantly lower in patients only with obesity, as well as with those with prediabetes and diabetes in comparison to the control group. Correlation analysis revealed that netrin-1 correlates negatively with BMI, waist, WSR, LDL and positive with sudomotor function. Netrin-1 <= 0.17 ng/ml has about 3 fold higher risk for carbohydrate disturbances (OR 3.06, 95% CI 1.48-6.34,p = .003). Conclusion Netrin-1 is associated with an increased risk for glycaemic disorders in patients with obesity.

Automated summary

This study found that netrin-1 is associated with an increased risk for glycaemic disorders in patients with obesity. Circulating serum netrin-1 levels were significantly lower in patients with obesity, as well as in those with prediabetes and diabetes.