The Association between Serum Uric Acid Levels and Insulin Resistance and Secretion in Prediabetes Mellitus: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: We investigated the association between serum uric acid (SUA) levels and insulin secretion and resistance in prediabetes patients, which is currently unclear.

Methods: Our study population consisted of 11,523 representative patients from northwest China. It was divided into three groups based on the results of an oral glucose tolerance test: the non-diabetes group (n=3234), the impaired glucose regulation (IGR, prediabetes) group (n=2886), and the type-2 diabetes mellitus group (n=5403). SUA and 2-hour insulin (2h-Ins) levels were measured, and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) scores were computed. The association between SUA level and insulin secretion and resistance was assessed via multivariate regression analysis.

Results: SUA and 2-hour insulin levels were highest in the IGR group in both men and women. After adjusting for multiple confounding risk factors, SUA levels significantly correlated with 2-hour insulin levels (odds ratio=1.700, 95% confidence interval=1.390, 2.080, P<0.001) and HOMA-IR scores (odds ratio=2.017, 95% confidence interval=1.671, 2.434, P<0.001) in the impaired glucose regulation (IGR) group.

Conclusion: SUA was positively associated with hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance in prediabetes patients in the retrospective study and is thus a potential risk factor for these conditions.

Keywords: HOMA-IR; insulin secretion; prediabetes; serum uric acid; type 2 diabetes mellitus; β-cell function.