Background: Diabetes mellitus is a chronic physiological disease characterized by increased levels of blood glucose
and can lead to damage to the urinary system, circulatory system, eyes, and nervous system. It poses serious challenges to healthcare systems.
Objectives: This study was designed to investigate the role of serum levels of alpha-tocopherol, fasting blood glucose,
glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c %), and fasting insulin in predicting type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in healthy subjects who are members of families affected by diabetes mellitus, compared to subjects from healthy families.
Materials and Methods: This case-control study was carried out at the Specialized Centre for Endocrinology and
Diabetes, Baghdad, Iraq, during the period from March to September 2024. It included 190 subjects of both genders,
classified into three subgroups:
Group 1 (G1; T2DM): 70 subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus for more than five years and whose parents had T2DM
Group 2 (G2; Familial T2DM – FT2DM): 70 subjects who are members of the same family as G1 but do not have
diabetes.
Group 3 (G3; Control): 50 apparently healthy subjects from different families without any history of diabetes.
Investigations included serum measurements of fasting glucose, insulin, and alpha-tocopherol, as well as blood HbA1c %.
Results:The mean (±SD) value of serum insulin in T2DM was significantly higher compared to FT2DM and controls
(p < 0.05).The mean insulin value in FT2DM was also significantly higher than in controls (p < 0.05).
The mean alpha-tocopherol level was significantly lower in T2DM compared to FT2DM (p < 0.05) and controls (p <
0.05), and also lower in FT2DM than controls (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: The study indicated a decrease in alpha-tocopherol levels in healthy individuals with a family history of
type 2 diabetes compared to controls with no family history of diabetes. This suggests that alpha-tocopherol could be
considered an early marker for the development of type 2 diabetes in healthy individuals.
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