Relationship between Serum Resistin Level of Xinjiang Uygur and Han Subjects with Metabolic Syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Xinjiang is a multi-ethnic region of China. Many large population based cross-sectional studies have shown that Uygur, the largest ethnic group in the Xinjiang, had a higher incidence rate of metabolic syndrome (MetS) than other ethnic groups living in Xinjiang region, but the pathological mechanism is not yet clear. Insulin resistance plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of MetS. Resistin is an adipocyte- and monocyte-derived cytokine that represents a link between obesity, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes. The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between serum resistin levels and metabolic syndrome parameters in Uygur and Han in Xinjiang.

METHODS: Subjects came from a population based cross-sectional study, a total of 465 subjects were selected for the study. Blood resistin, fasting blood sugar (FBS), fasting insulin (FINS), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), triglycerides (TG), waist circumference (WC), body mass index (BMI), systolic blood pressures (SBP), diastolic blood pressures (DBP), and the homeostasis model assessment-estimated insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) indices were measured. Dietary intake data were obtained by food frequency questionnaire method. The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) criteria were adopted to define metabolic syndrome.

RESULTS: The MetS group has higher metabolic parameters of FPG, TG, TC, DBP, SBP, WC, BMI, LDL-C, and low HDL-C than the non-MetS group, Uygurs have higher FPG and WC than Hans, and Hans have higher TC, TG, and FINS than Uygurs, even after adjusting for age, gender, and BMI, indicating ethnic differences in MetS-related parameters. There was no significant difference in serum resistin levels between the MetS and non-MetS group, as well as between the Uygur and the Han ethnic groups, but a significant positive correlation was found between serum resistin levels with FIN, HOMA, and diet fat.

CONCLUSIONS: In our study, we did not observe significant differences in serum resitin levels between the MetS and non-MetS group, regardless of ethnicity. However, serum resistin was positively associated with insulin resistance markers, suggesting that resistin may be an independent determinant for insulin resistance, or indirectly contribute to the development of MetS. Therefore the role of resistin in MetS warrants further investigation.