Impact of Adipokines and Inflammatory Cytokines on Abnormal Glucose Tolerance in Young

Background: Adipokines and inflammatory cytokines may have an important impact on rising trend of obesity and abnormal glucose tolerance (AGT) in young across the globe. The aim of the study was to see serum adiponectin, leptin, resistin, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in young Bangladeshi with AGT. Methods: This case-control study included 40 young participants with AGT [age 26 years (IQR 24-29); 60.0% female] and 40 with normal glucose tolerance [NGT; age 25 years (IQR 22-28); 44.0% female] encompassed following the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and HbA1c. Insulin resistance (IR) was calculated by homeostasis model assessment (HOMA). The measurement of serum adiponectin, leptin, resistin and TNF-α was done by ELISA whereas CRP by Chemiluminescent test. Results: Level of TNF-α, leptin, and adiponectin as well as frequency of raised resistin and CRP were statistically similar between AGT and NGT (p=NS for all). Positive correlation of TNF-α [body mass index (BMI) in AGT: r=0.354, p=0.025)], leptin [BMI in AGT r=0.760, p<0.001 and NGT 0.675, p<0.001; waist circumference (WC) in AGT: r=0.675, p<0.001 and NGT 0.493, p=0.001] and CRP (NGT group: BMI: 0.579, p<0.001; WC: 0.553, p<0.001) but negative correlation of adiponectin [waist-hip ratio (WHR) in NGT: r=-413, p=0.008] and resistin (WHR in AGT: r=-0.607, p=0.003) with measures of obesity were observed. No adipokines or inflammatory cytokines had any significant correlation to glycemic measures, except negative correlation in AGT with leptin (FPG: r=-0.405, p=0.010; 2hPG: r=-0.431, p=0.006; HbA1c: r=-0.399, p=0.011) and CRP (2hPG; r=-0.490, p=0.021). Fasting insulin or IR had a positive correlation with leptin (in AGT: insulin r=0.545, p<0.001 & IR r=0.337, p=0.034) and CRP (in NGT r=0.318, p=0.045 & r=0.323, p=0.042), negative correlation with adiponectin (in NGT insulin r=-0.350, p=0.027 & IR r=-0.352, p=0.026) and resistin (IR in NGT: r=-0.340, p=0.032) while no significant correlations with TNF-α. None of the cytokines or inflammatory markers were independent predictors of AGT in youth. Conclusions: The serum levels of cytokines do not differ significantly between AGT and NGT subgroups of young subjects and none of the cytokines was observed to be independent predictor over AGT in young. Bangladesh Medical Res Counc Bull 2023; 49(2): 126-133