Low Serum Levels of Meteorin-like/Subfatin: An Indicator of Diabetes Mellitus and Insulin Resistance?

Aim: Meteorin-like (Metrnl), also known as subfatin, is a recently discovered adipokine with a favorable effect on insulin sensitivity. Studies have shown lower Metrnl levels in obese patients. However, data on its circulating levels in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients are contradictory. This study aims to evaluate serum Metrnl levels in T2DM patients and determine the relationship between serum Metrnl levels and insulin resistance in these patients. Materials and Methods: Our study included 50 patients recently diagnosed with T2DM who were not on medical treatment, 50 long-standing Type 2 DM patients who were on medical treatment, and 50 healthy individuals as control subjects. Serum levels of subfatin were measured using the ELISA method. Results: Serum levels of subfatin were determined as 21.1 ± 17 for the healthy control group, as 5.6 ± 14.5 for the recently diagnosed diabetic group, and as 2.81 ± 2.85 for the long-standing diabetic group on medical treatment, and there was a strong statistically significant difference between the groups (< 0.001). Conclusions: Serum levels of subfatin show a gradual decrease from healthy individuals to more advanced stages of diabetes, suggesting that it can serve as a useful marker in the prediabetic period in individuals with risk factors for diabetes.