Abstract

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a chronic progressive disease typified by a loss of glycaemic control over time as the insulin secreting pancreatic β-cells lose their ability to compensate for the prevailing levels of insulin sensitivity. Several abnormalities are associated with diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Butyrylcholinesterase activity in diabetes and metabolic syndrome is generally under reported.  Blood samples and demographic data were obtained from one hundred and five patients presenting at Specialist Hospital Sokoto, Nigeria. These were screened for type 2 diabetes according to the guidelines of the American Diabetes Association. Based on anthropometric indices and clinical data, patients were stratified into to 4 groups: Control (n = 44), type 2 diabetics with metabolic syndrome (n = 14), obese type 2 diabetics without metabolic syndrome (n = 21) and non-obese type 2 diabetics without metabolic syndrome (n = 26). Butyrylcholinesterase was assayed by kinetic and colorimetric method, other biochemical and clinical parameters were according to standard methods. Type 2 diabetics with or without metabolic syndrome have significantly higher activity of butyrylcholinesterase than control group. The higher activity of the enzyme may have been influenced by hyperglycemia, obesity and metabolic syndrome through enhanced transcription or catalytic mechanism of the enzyme or both. Butyrylcholinesterase activity may serve as marker to predict the development of type 2 diabetes and or metabolic syndrome.

Key words: Type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, butyrylcholinesterase, Nigerian, diabetics.

Abbreviation

BuChE, Butyrylcholinesterase; BMI, body mass index; HDL-C, high density lipoprotein cholesterol; LDL, low density lipoprotein; VLDL, very low density lipoprotein; CVD, cardiovascular disease.