Uric acid is a biomarker of type 2 diabetes

Diabetes is considered a major health problem with increasing prevalence, and leading cause of morbidity, mortality and vast complications. In order to determine if a patient is diagnosed with diabetes, there are a number of metabolic biomarkers that are taken in consideration, and currently serum uric acid is not included. Yet, a new study finds that serum uric isn't something to be overlooked in diabetes diagnosis.


Researchers studied 1205 patients and discovered that there's direct correlation between uric acid and development of type 2 diabetes. According to the study "uric acid might have an important role in the determination of the beta cell function in patients with type-2 diabetes, augmentation of insulin secretion and improvement of glycemic control both in type-1 and type-2 diabetic patients."
The study that was published recently at a Journal of Research in Diabetes was carried by a group of scientists at Aseer Central Hospital in Abha, Saudi Arabia.

The researchers said that they have used for the first time what they referred to as "regression equation", a link between uric acid and insulin levels. So, "By this regression equation methodology, insulin secretion and levels can be easily determined by diabetologist or physician in routine clinical practice for type-2 DM patients" the study stated.

Among the aims of the study was "to investigate how serum uric acid concentration affects and correlates with that of fasting insulin in diabetic patients. Our observations were not different from the previous research trials which have reported increased insulin secretion by uric acid (Worlicek et al. 1981; Sinagra et al. 1996).

Researchers also confirmed that "there were no studies which have synthesized the regression model for uric acid and insulin levels, neither estimated insulin secretory effect by uric acid; this goal was achieved in the current study. Hence, the current study findings with regression models proved that uric acid augments insulin secretion. For example, according to the observed regression equation, if uric acid level of 5 mg/dl is considered then insulin secretion/level would be about 48.3 μU/mL. Similarly, if uric acid is found to be 10 mg/dl, then insulin levels would be about 106.35 μU/mL, approximately more than 2-fold than the previous value. By this regression equation methodology, insulin secretion and levels can be easily determined by diabetologist or physician in routine clinical practice for type-2 DM patients" the recently published study has stated.

Scientists found that "Uric acid should be measured in diabetology clinics while requesting baseline investigations, and proposed regression model can be utilized for the assessment of insulin secretion, β-cell function in type-2 diabetic patient and consequent management accordingly. Further studies are required to investigate in depth the role of uric acid for the improvement or augmentation of insulin secretion in type-2 diabetic subjects and glycemic control status both in type-1 and type-2 diabetic patients."

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