Potential biomarker in serum for predicting susceptibility to type 2 diabetes mellitus: Free fatty acid 22:6.

ABSTRACT

AIMS/INTRODUCTION: Type 2 diabetes mellitus is closely linked to increased levels of free fatty acids (FFAs) in obese individuals, although which FFA is most associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus is unclear. This study aimed to identify the specific FFAs that best predict the occurrence of type 2 diabetes mellitus in obese individuals, and assess their potential application value. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Participants were divided into three groups a normal weight group (n = 20), an obese group (n = 10) and a type 2 diabetes mellitus group (n = 10). FFAs in serum samples were determined by ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis models were used to study the FFA profile among the three groups. RESULTS: Compared with the normal weight group, 14 FFAs (C80/100/140/161/181/202/ 203 /204/ 205/ 226/70/90/110 and C130) were significantly increased in the obese group, and nine FFAs (C140, C181, C201, C 182, C202, C203, C183, C205 and C226) were significantly increased in the type 2 diabetes mellitus group. Subsequently, the Venn diagram results showed that six FFAs (C140, C181, C202, C203, C205 and C226) were significantly increased in both the obese and type 2 diabetes mellitus groups. Among these six, C226 was finally identified as an independent risk factor for type 2 diabetes mellitus, and had a great potential to predict the susceptibility to type 2 diabetes mellitus (area under the curve 0.803). CONCLUSIONS: C226 can be an independent risk factor for type 2 diabetes mellitus, and it has a great potential to predict the susceptibility to type 2 diabetes mellitus.