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

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.