Serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: Relationship to glucose metabolism and biomarkers of insulin resistance.

OBJECTIVES The aims of this study were to measure serum levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and to investigate the association of these BDNF levels with biomarkers of glucose metabolism and insulin resistance. DESIGN AND METHODS We studied 112 patients with T2DM and 80 age- and gender-matched control subjects. RESULTS Serum BDNF levels were significantly lower in patients with T2DM compared to control subjects (15.5+/-5.2 ng/mL vs. 20.0+/-7.3 ng/mL, P<0.01). In patients with T2DM, BDNF levels were significantly higher in females than in males (P<0.01). In the female patients, BDNF was positively related to immunoreactive insulin (IRI) (rho=0.458, P<0.05) and HOMA-R (rho=0.444, P<0.05). Stepwise multiple regression analysis showed a significant relationship between BDNF and IRI (F=5.294, P<0.05) in female patients with diabetes. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that BDNF may contribute to glucose metabolism.

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