Urinary Screening for Aminoacidurias Using Chromatography and Serum Amino Acid Profile in Type 2 Diabetes and Healthy Controls

Type 2 diabetes is a complex metabolic disorder characterised by altered amino acid metabolism. This study investigates plasma amino acid profiles and specific aminoacidurias in patients with type 2 diabetes. We recruited 115 patients with type 2 diabetes and 115 healthy controls. Urine amino acids were analysed using paper chromatography, while serum amino acids were analysed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Diabetes-induced alterations in amino acid metabolism are multifaceted. Hyperglycemia and insulin resistance can lead to increased gluconeogenesis, resulting in the depletion of certain amino acids, such as glutamine and arginine. Conversely, the increased availability of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) such as leucine, isoleucine and valine can contribute to insulin resistance and impaired glucose metabolism. Significant alterations in plasma and urine amino acid levels were observed in patients with type 2 diabetes, including increased levels of BCAAs and decreased levels of glutamine and arginine. These changes correlated with disease severity and metabolic parameters. Understanding these alterations is crucial for developing novel therapeutic strategies and diagnostic tools for type 2 diabetes management. Our findings provide new insights into amino acid metabolism in type 2 diabetes, identifying potential biomarkers for disease diagnosis and monitoring. These results suggest avenues for developing therapeutic strategies and contribute to understanding the complex relationship between amino acid metabolism and type 2 diabetes. The study highlights the potential of amino acid profiling as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool in type 2 diabetes management.