The association between fetuin-A and testosterone levels and markers of arterial stiffness in Saudi subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Background

Inconsistent results have been described regarding the part of fetuin-A and testosterone in arterial stiffness in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Aim

To look into the links of serum fetuin-A and testosterone levels with brachial-Ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), a marker of arteriosclerosis and common carotid intima media thickness (ccIMT), a marker of early atherosclerosis, in diabetic Saudi men patients.

Subjects and methods

One hundred and fifty adult male patients with T2DM and 60 non-diabetic control subjects were enrolled from different Saudi Arabia Taif hospitals. Biochemical analysis, anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, baPWV and ccIMT were investigated.

Results

Stepwise regression in diabetic patients revealed that the most important predictor of ba-PWV was serum fetuin-A followed by serum glucose and the most important predictor of ccIMT was serum fetuin-A followed by serum HDL then serum triglycerides.

Conclusions

Only fetuin-A levels not testosterone are negatively associated with early markers of atherosclerosis.