Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This study aims to conduct a comprehensive investigation of the serum amino acid profiles of individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and its related complications. METHODS: Patients with T2D were enrolled in this study. Sixteen kinds of common amino acids in the fasting circulating were assessed through liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Subsequently, correlation, regression analyses, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were conducted to assess the associations between amino acids and clinical indicators. RESULTS: Thirteen different kinds of amino acids were identified in diabetic patients, as compared with normal controls. The Glutamine/Glutamate (Gln/Glu) ratio was negatively correlated with BMI, HbA1c, serum uric acid, and the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index, while it was positively correlated with HDL-C. Logistic regression analyses indicated that Gln/Glu was a consistent protective factor for both T2D (OR = 0.65, 95% CI 0.50-0.86) and obesity (OR = 0.79, 95% CI 0.66-0.96). The ROC curves demonstrated that Gln/Glu, proline, valine, and leucine provided effective predictions for diabetes risk, with Gln/Glu exhibiting the highest AUC [0.767 (0.678-0.856)]. In patients with T2D, Gln was the only amino acid that displayed a negative correlation with HbA1c (r = -0.228, p = 0.017). Furthermore, HOMA-β exhibited a negative correlation with Glu (r = -0.301, p = 0.003) but a positive correlation with Gln/Glu (r = 0.245, p = 0.017). Notably, logistic regression analyses revealed an inverse correlation of Gln/Glu with the risk of diabetic kidney disease (OR = 0.74, 95% CI 0.55-0.98) and a positive association with the risk of diabetic retinopathy (OR = 1.53, 95% CI 1.08-2.15). CONCLUSION: The Gln/Glu ratio exhibited a significant association with diabetes, common metabolic parameters, and diabetic complications. These findings shed light on the pivotal role of Gln metabolism in T2D and its associated complications.