Abstract: Objective To investigate the role of resistin in obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Methods 55 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and 34 healthy controls were randomly enrolled in this study. No dysfunctions of heart, liver or kidney or other endocrine diseases were found. Based on plasma glucose and BMI, they were divided into four groups: the normal control group, the obese control group, the nonobese T2DM group, and the obese T2DM group. The levels of serum resistin, HbAlc, bloodfat, fasting plama glucose, and fasting insulin were determined. The insulin resistance index was calculated based on the HOMA model(HOMAIRI=FINS×FPG／225). Results The serum level of resistin of the obese T2DM group ［(1402±468)ng／mL］ was significantly higher than that of the other three groups (P＜0001). The serum resistin levels of the obese group［(814±284)ng／mL］ and the nonobese T2DM group［(856±502)ng／mL］ were significantly higher than that of the normal control group［(562±156)ng／mL］ (P＜005, P＜001). There were positive correlations between the level of serum resistin and the levels of HbA1c, LDL, IRI, SBP and BMI(r=0222,　r=0233,　r=0286,　r=0407,　 r=0480, respectively), and negative correlations between serum resistin and HDL and FINS (r=-0198, r=-0138, respectively). Stepwise regression analysis showed that BMI, HbA1c and systolic blood pressure highly influenced the serum level of resistin. Conclusion Resistin is an important factor linking obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus. It may play a role in insulin resistance and obesity. Resistin is not only related to the metabolism of blood glucose and lipids, but also related to hypertension.

Key words: Type 2 diabetes mellitus, Obesity, Insulin resistance