Assessment of Liver Marker Enzymes in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients

Background and objectives: Hepatocyte injury and changes reflected in the levels of liver marker enzymes have been elucidated in various studies on type 2 diabetes mellitus. These changes have been linked to the high blood sugar levels, free radicals and oxidative stress produced in the same. Liver marker enzymes including ALT, AST, GGT, ALP, have been associated with poor glycemic index. Many studies have linked one or two of the liver marker enzymes with type 2 diabetes mellitus, but in our study we attempted to find the link between the four hepatic enzymes with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Methods: Sixty cases of type 2 diabetes mellitus among the age group of 35 to 60 years and 35 healthy age and sex matched controls were chosen. Various tests including fasting blood glucose, serum triglycerides, total cholesterol, ALT, AST, GGT and ALP were performed. Results: In the present study, type 2 diabetes mellitus cases and fasting blood sugar showed a statistically significant association with serum ALT (p=0.003), AST(p=0.017), GGT (p=0.00019) and no correlation with ALP (p=0.96). Also, there was a weak positive correlation for AST (p=0.02) and ALT (p=0.06) with Triglycerides, but the hepatic enzymes did not correlate with BMI or total cholesterol levels. Interpretation and conclusion: This case-control study is unique in assessing the levels of serum ALT, AST, GGT, ALP with FBS, BMI, T.CHOL, TGL levels among type 2 diabetes mellitus cases living in Triplicane, Chennai. We assessed whether liver marker enzymes can be used as biomarkers for insulin resistance and thereby for diagnosing high risk patients for developing type 2 diabetes mellitus, for their management and to monitor the complications.