Heme Oxygenase-1 as Crucial Biomarker for Detecting Oxidative Stress and Some Parameters in a Sample of Obese Patients with and without Diabetes

Objective: Obesity is a significant contributor to various metabolic disorders, including type 2 diabetes (T2D), resulting in heightened oxidative stress. This study aims to examine the levels of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), their correlation with high-density lipoprotein (HDL) concentration, and their influence on the onset of T2D in obese individuals with diabetes. Materials and methods: The study comprised 150 samples categorized into 3 groups, with each group further subdivided into 2 subgroups: males and females aged 30 to 65 years. Samples were collected at AL-Kindy Teaching Hospital. All sample variables for fasting subjects in every group were assessed. The colorimetric approach was employed for biochemical assays, encompassing fasting blood sugar (FBS) and lipid profiles. Insulin, HO-1, and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) levels were also quantified using ELISA. Subsequently, we employed statistical analysis to elucidate the results. Results: Compared to the obesity group, the HO-1 and HDL concentrations were higher in T2D with obesity [(18.0 ± 0.40), (39.86 ± 1.26) vs. (10.41 ± 0.74), (36.27 ± 0.85), with (ng/mL), (mg/dL), respectively]. The T2D with obesity group also showed higher insulin resistance compared to the obesity and control groups [(4.19 ± 0.874) vs. (1.21 ± 0.39), (0.74 ± 0.142)]. The diabetes with obesity male group had elevated HO-1 concentrations compared with the obesity male group, a result that also applied to females. Conclusions: The T2D with obesity group had higher concentrations of the HO-1 enzyme than the obesity group. We found a positive association between higher HDL concentrations and increased enzyme concentrations in the T2D with obesity group. This enzyme may serve as a biomarker to predict the development of diabetes or the onset of other metabolic diseases.