Plasma CTRP-3 concentrations in Chinese patients with obesity and type II diabetes negatively correlate with insulin resistance

Background: To analyze the association between the plasma C1q/TNF-related protein-3 (CTRP-3) concentrations, obesity, and type II diabetes in the Chinese population.

Methods: The plasma CTRP-3 concentrations were analyzed in 174 Chinese subjects with obesity (n = 43), type II diabetes (n = 41), obesity combined with type II diabetes (n = 45), and healthy subjects (n = 45), as were various clinical parameters of obesity-related metabolic disorders and adipokines.

Results: The plasma CTRP-3 concentrations were significantly lower in patients with obesity and type II diabetes than in healthy subjects (P < .01). Obese type II diabetic patients had the lowest CTRP-3 concentrations. Correlation analysis revealed that the plasma CTRP-3 concentrations were significantly negatively correlated with body mass index, waist circumferences, fasting plasma glucose, 2 h plasma glucose, hemoglobin A1c, triglyceride, fasting insulin, homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance, and interleukin 6 levels and were positively correlated with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level (all P < .01). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that hemoglobin A1c (β = -0.232, P = .023), triglyceride (β = -0.147, P = .040), and homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (β = -0.172, P = .031) were independently correlated with circulating CTRP-3. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that plasma CTRP-3 concentrations were significantly correlated with obesity, even after adjusting for glucose metabolic factors.

Conclusions: Chinese patients with obesity and type II diabetes have significantly lower plasma CTRP-3 concentrations than healthy subjects do, and plasma CTRP-3 is strongly associated with glucose and lipid metabolism, chronic inflammation, and insulin resistance.