Serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: Relationship to glucose metabolism and biomarkers of insulin resistance

Objectives: The aims of this study were to measure serum levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and to investigate the association of these BDNF levels with biomarkers of glucose metabolism and insulin resistance. Design and methods: We studied 112 patients with T2DM and 80 age- and gender-matched control subjects. Results: Serum BDNF levels were significantly lower in patients with T2DM compared to control subjects (15.5 +/- 5.2 ng/mL vs. 20.0 +/- 7.3 ng/mL, P<0.01). In patients with T2DM, BDNF levels were significantly higher in females than in males (P<0.01). In the female patients, BDNF was positively related to immunoreactive insulin (IRI) (rho=0.458, P<0.05) and HOMA-R (rho=0.444, P<0.05). Stepwise multiple regression analysis showed a significant relationship between BDNF and IRI (F=5.294, P<0.05) in female patients with diabetes. Conclusions: These findings suggest that BDNF may contribute to glucose metabolism. (C) 2008 The Canadian Society of Clinical Chemists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.