Objective: To investigate the relationship between serum free fatty acid (FFA) level and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).
Methods: A total of 442 T2DM patients treated in Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital from January 2013 to June 2015 were retrospectively analyzed and divided into three groups according to estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) levels using modified modification of diet in renal disease (MDRD) formula: eGFR≥90 ml·min(-1)·1.73 m(-2)group (group A, 227 cases), 60 ml·min(-1)·1.73 m(-2)≤eGFR<90 ml·min(-1)·1.73 m(-2)group (group B, 118 cases), and eGFR<60 ml·min(-1)·1.73 m(-2)group (group C, 97 cases). In addition, 50 body mass index (BMI)-matched non-diabetic subjects were selected as control group. Fasting serum FFA level was measured in each group, and its relationship with eGFR was analyzed.
Results: FFA level in group C[(450±203)μmol/L]was significantly higher than that in group A[(326±167)μmol/L], group B[(394±184)μmol/L]and control group[(320±90)μmol/L](all P<0.05). Meanwhile, FFA level in group B was higher compared with that in group A (P<0.05). However, no statistical difference was found in FFA level between group A and Control group (P>0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis using eGFR as the dependent variable demonstrated that uric acid (UA), FFA, triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), albuminuria, hypertension, smoking and duration of diabetes were all independent risk factors for decreased eGFR (all P<0.05).
Conclusion: The present results suggest that increased FFA level might be involved in the development of diabetic nephropathy.