Abstract
BACKGROUND: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) poses a significant public health challenge due to its high prevalence. Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is one of the most severe complications associated with T2DM. Early prediction of DN in patients with T2DM can significantly aid in managing this disease. This study takes an approach by investigating the potential role of melatonin and thyroid hormone levels as predictive biomarkers for the progression of diabetic nephropathy in individuals diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus. METHODS: Our cross-sectional study involved 120 male participants, divided into two groups: 60 patients with T2DM and 60 with DN. The Cobas technique was used to measure serum thyroid hormone levels and quantified melatonin levels using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). A receiver utilizing characteristic (ROC) curve analysis to evaluate the predictive value of serum melatonin for DN was performed. RESULTS: No notable disparities in thyroid function tests were observed between diabetic patients with and without DN. However, the average serum melatonin quantity in patients with DN. (177.25 ± 60.48 pg/mL) was drastically lower in those with T2DM without DN (199.9 ± 55.16 pg/mL). The sensitivity and specificity of melatonin in predicting DN were 78% and 76%, respectively, with an optimal cut-off value of 178 pg/mL. CONCLUSIONS: Serum melatonin levels exhibited a notable reduction. among individuals who were diabetic with DN, suggesting its potential utility as an additional predictive marker for developing DN in patients with T2DM.