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Xanthine oxidase activity associated with type 2 diabetes risk
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In both men and women, higher levels of serum xanthine oxidase activity were linked with an increased risk for type 2 diabetes, according to findings from a prospective cohort study conducted in China.
“A high concentration of serum uric acid has frequently been associated with the risk of [type 2 diabetes],” Ying Li, of the College of Public Health and Harbin Medical University, and colleagues wrote.
Previous studies have linked high concentrations of serum uric acid with type 2 diabetes. According to researchers, uric acid metabolism is linked with glucose and fructose metabolism, as well as obesity.
“It has been suggested that xanthine oxidase may underlie the [uric acid-type 2 diabetes] association,” Li and colleagues wrote.
The researchers conducted a prospective cohort study of patients aged 30 to 65 years (men, n = 2,341; women, n = 2,071). Patients were followed for a mean of 4.7 years to monitor incident change of glucose metabolism. The researchers assessed patients’ baseline serum uric acid and xanthine oxidase, as well as serum lipids and factors such as fasting blood glucose, HbA1c, 2-hour blood glucose and fasting insulin.
During follow-up, 249 women and 360 men developed type 2 diabetes. The researchers reported xanthine oxidase activity was linked with uric acid concentration (P < .001).
In a sex-specific analysis, a model including uric acid and xanthine oxidase concentration found that only xanthine oxidase was associated with type 2 diabetes, according to Li and colleagues.
In women, the HRs for type 2 diabetes in the top quartile to the bottom quartile of xanthine oxidase activity were 2.36 (95% CI, 1.43-3.9), followed by 1.86 (95% CI, 1.11-3.13), 1.67 (95% CI, 1-2.79) and 1, the researchers reported. In men, the HRs for type 2 diabetes were 1.9 (95% CI, 1.3-2.78) for the top quartile of xanthine oxidase activity, followed by 1.41 (95% CI, 0.98-2.03), 1.01 (95% CI, 0.68-1.52) and 1 for the lowest quartile.
“These findings may have implications for the possible modifiable pathways to [type 2 diabetes].” – by Andy Polhamus
Disclosures: The authors report no relevant financial disclosures.
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