Homocysteine as a non-classical risk factor for atherosclerosis in relation to pharmacotherapy of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Magdalena Anna Borowska; Marzena Dworacka; Hanna Winiarska; Ewa Krzyżagórska

doi:10.18388/abp.2016_1489

Magdalena Anna Borowska Department of Pharmacology, Poznan University of Medical Science
Marzena Dworacka Department of Pharmacology, Poznan University of Medical Science
Hanna Winiarska Department of Pharmacology, Poznan University of Medical Science
Ewa Krzyżagórska Poznan Specialist Center of Medical Care, Diabetology Outpatient Clinic, Serbska 6, Poznan

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18388/abp.2016_1489

Keywords: homocysteine, atherosclerosis, pharmacotherapy

Abstract

Aims

The aim of our study was to evaluate which of the pharmacotherapeutic methods that are frequently used to treat type 2 diabetes is associated with the most beneficial profile in relation to pro-atherogenic homocysteine levels.

Patients and methods

We measured the serum homocysteine level in 182 patients with type 2 diabetes treated with metformin (89), treated with insulin in combination with metformin (31), receiving sulfonulureas (31) and treated conventionally with insulin (31). The total homocysteine levels in the serum were assayed using commercial kits (Axis^® Human Homocysteine ELISA Kit, IBL). To exclude the influence of selected metabolic and anthropometric factors on the differences between the examined groups, multivariate analysis of covariance was used (ANCOVA). In this analysis, serum homocysteine concentration was the dependent variable, while diabetes duration, waist circumference, HbA_1c, 1.5-anhydro-D-glucitol, fasting glycaemia and peptide C were used as covariates.

Results

The serum homocysteine levels in patients treated with insulin in monotherapy was significantly higher than what was observed in the metformin treated subjects and than in the patients receiving insulin combined with metformin. The analysis of covariance confirmed that the differences between the therapeutic groups were affected also by waist circumference and the C-peptide levels.

Conclusion.

We conclude that conventional insulin therapy may have negative effect on pro-atherogenic homocysteine levels in patients with type 2 diabetes. This study revealed that not only pharmacotherapy of type 2 diabetes may modify pro-atherogenic homocysteine levels but also beta cell secretory function and abdominal obesity.

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