Aims: To analyze the serum lipid and inflammatory biomarker profile in the early insulin resistance (e-IR).
Methods: Cross-sectional study of 5943 adults without diabetes, stratified into no IR group (C-peptide <third tertile and glucose <100 mg/dL), e-IR group (C-peptide ≥third tertile and glucose <100 mg/dL) and advanced IR group (glucose ≥100 mg/dL).
Results: E-IR showed significant differences with no IR in the serum concentration of triglycerides (P < 0.001), HDL cholesterol (P < 0.001), LDL cholesterol (P < 0.001), sCD40L (P < 0.001), C-reactive protein (P < 0.004), leptin (P < 0.001) and adiponectin (P < 0.001). Adjusting for age, gender and abdominal obesity, corroborated the association of e-IR with highest quintile of triglycerides (OR 3.88 [3.07-4.89]), HDL cholesterol (OR 0.35 [0.28-0.44]), sCD40L (OR 0.47 [0.24-0.94]), C-reactive protein (OR 2.31 [1.29-4.12]), adiponectin (OR 0.11 [0.04-0.32]), PAI-1 (OR 3.29 [1.29-8.40]) and resistin (OR 1.25 [1.01-1.54]); the same biomarkers were associated with advanced IR although resistin was a protective factor (OR 0.73 [0.58-0.93]).
Conclusions: Euglycemic patients with e-IR present an unfavorable serum lipid and inflammatory biomarker profile. Measuring C-peptide in euglycemic patients with elevated triglycerides identifies e-IR.
Keywords: Biomarkers; C-peptide; Epidemiology; Insulin resistance; Population-based studies.