Dipeptidyl peptidase 4 concentration influenced by serum insulin levels rather than arterial stiffness index in type 2 diabetics.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate whether inhibitors of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) can suppress the atherosclerotic development in diabetic patients.

METHODS

The prospective study was carried out in the Out-patient Department of XuHui Central Hospital, Shanghai, China, between March and August 2013. The correlation of major index of glucose and lipid metabolism profiles, and the arterial stiffness index (AI) between diabetic patients and healthy subjects were analyzed.

PATIENTS OR MATERIALS

39 patients with type 2 diabetes and 29 healthy subjects were enrolled for measurements of blood glucose, plasma insulin, HbA1c, TC, cholesterol, HDL, AI and body mass index (BMI).

RESULTS

Significant differences were found between DPP-4 and blood glucose (fasting and 2 h postprandial), HbA1c, cholesterol, high density lipoprotein and arterial stiffness in normal subjects and diabetic patients. Only the fasting insulin concentration and high density lipoprotein had a significant impact on DPP-4 levels.

CONCLUSIONS

It was clear that insulin (fasting) and HDL levels had an impact on DPP-4 activity but only in patients with Type 2 diabetes. The arterial stiffness index was not correlated with DPP-4 levels in Type 2 diabetic patients.