Aims: Angiopoietin-like growth factors (ANGPTLs) regulate glucose, lipid homeostasis, and insulin sensitivity. This study aimed to find whether long-term glycemic control (glycated hemoglobin [HbA1c]) has any correlation with serum ANGPTL6 levels in patients of type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Materials and methods: It was an open-label, observational, prospective clinical study. Sixty-five participants (41 diabetic patients receiving daily dose of oral metformin for a minimum of 3 months and 24 matched controls) completed the study. A single venous blood sample was taken from each participant to determine serum HbA1c and serum ANGPTL6 levels. Comparison of serum ANGPTL6 levels according to the HbA1c levels, in groups A, B, and C ranging from 6.5%-8%, 8.1%-9.5%, and >9.5%, respectively, was done using Kruskal-Wallis H-test followed by pairwise comparisons.
Results: Serum HbA1c and serum ANGPTL6 levels were raised significantly (P < 0.05) in diabetic patients when compared with control participants. A positive correlation was observed between serum HbA1c and serum ANGPTL6 levels (r = 0.88, 95% confidence interval 0.81, 0.92). Mean ANGPTL6 level for Group A (n = 20) was 394.3 pg/ml, for Group B (n = 8) 692.8 pg/ml, and for Group C (n = 13) 896.2 pg/ml.
Conclusions: Serum ANGPTL6 levels were significantly higher in type 2 diabetic patients in comparison with healthy controls. Poor glycemic control in diabetes mellitus as reflected by higher serum HbA1c levels is associated with raised serum ANGPTL6 levels.
Keywords: Endocrine signal; glucose; insulin resistance.