The Role of Serum Ceramide Levels and Some Biochemical Markers Pathogenesis of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Iraqi Patients

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic condition that, over time, leads to major illnesses due to its numerous consequences. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is the most prevalent kind of disease; it is a complicated disease that is caused by a combination of genetics and environmental factors. Ceramides are structural units of lipids in cell membranes and signaling molecules involved in the regulation of cell homeostasis. However, ceramides are most often recognized as the foundation for lipid bilayers. This study involved the collection of 120 blood samples, 60 patients with T2DM, and 60 apparently healthy subjects as a control group. The serum ceramide level was determined by ELISA. Body mass indexes (BMI) were calculated for all participants. The biochemical parameters studied (fasting blood glucose (FBG), lipid profile, and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) were also measured. The Results indicate that serum ceramide levels are significantly (P<0.0001) higher in T2DM patients versus controls. Also, FBG and HbA1c were levels significantly (P<0.0001) elevated in T2DM patients versus controls. Lipid parameters (Cholesterol, triglyceride, and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL)) significantly increased in T2DM patients compared with a control group. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) showed no significant differences in individuals with type 2 diabetes compared to control subjects. The study concludes that the serum ceramide levels may represent a biomarker for the pathogenicity of T2DM in Iraqi patients.