Serum fetuin-A levels in obese and non-obese subjects with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus

Abstract Background Higher fetuin-A expression is linked to both obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), However, studies in non-obese patients with T2DM are scarce. Methods 345 newly diagnosed T2DM patients and 300 subjects with normal glucose tolerance (NGT) were divided into obese and non-obese subgroups, respectively. Serum fetuin-A and adiponectin levels and related parameters were measured. Results T2DM patients with obesity had higher fetuin-A levels compared with non-obese patients and obese NGT subjects ( p p p for trend  Conclusion Higher serum fetuin-A levels in obese T2DM patients compared with non-obese patients and obese NGT subjects supports the hypothesis that fetuin-A may be as a bridge connecting obesity and obesity-related T2DM.