Sialic Acid and Lipid Profiles of Individuals with Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 and Cardiovascular Disease

Background: Diabetes Mellitus type 2 is among the top ranked non communicable diseases in Nigeria. There is an increasing incidence of this disease condition and its subsequent complications particularly cardiovascular complications. Sialic acid is a constituent of cell membrane and is present in most acute phase proteins. Several studies have indicated changes in sialic acid concentration in different pathological conditions and some studies in different populations of the world have suggested a link between sialic acid concentration, diabetes mellitus, lipid disorders and cardiovascular disease.

Aim: This study was carried out to determine sialic acid concentrations and lipid abnormalities in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 with and without cardiovascular complications hypothesizing that sialic acid concentration will have an association with lipid parameters in diabetic groups.

Method of Study: Blood samples collected from 100 patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 and 50 apparently healthy individuals (controls) were subjected to sialic acid analysis by the Thiobarbituric acid assay and a lipid profile analysis where total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein (HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL), triglyceride (TG) were evaluated. Test of significance was calculated by unpaired student’s t test between study groups. Pearson’s correlation was performed between the variables of serum sialic acid and serum lipid profile.

Results: Significance was set at P=.05. Significantly higher mean serum levels of sialic acid were found in diabetic groups (P=.001) as compared to the apparently healthy group with highest concentrations of sialic acid observed in the diabetic group with cardiovascular disease. However, no significant association was found between sialic acid levels with lipid parameters.

Conclusion: The findings in this study validate other studies linking elevated serum sialic acid levels with diabetes mellitus type 2 and diabetic cardiovascular disease. The study showed lipid abnormalities in all groups indicating rising incidence of diabetic dyslipidemia and dyslipidemia even within healthy population.