Determination of Serum Insulin Degrading Enzyme Levels in Syrian Patients with Metabolic Syndrome without Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Background and Aim: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) forms a cluster of metabolic dysregulations including hyperglycemia and/or insulin resistance, atherogenic dyslipidemia, central obesity, and hypertension. MetS is a prominent cause of morbidity and mortality, and its etiology is believed to involve a complex interplay between genetic predisposition and environmental factors, especially insulin resistance. On the other hand, insulin degrading enzyme (IDE) is the main enzyme that degrades insulin. Recent studies suggested that it has important functions related to the mechanisms of insulin action, and insulin and glucose homeostasis; So it might be a useful biomarker in these cases. The aim of this study was to compare serum IDE levels between subjects having metabolic syndrome without type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) (patient group) and healthy people (control group) in a sample of Syrian adults. And study the relationship of IDE levels with the components of metabolic syndrome and some anthropometric, clinical, inflammatory and metabolic parame¬ters. Materials and Methods: 93 Syrian adult participants were divided into 2 groups (45 healthy controls and 48 patients). Personal history and measuring anthropometric, clinical, obesity, inflammatory, and metabolic parameters were applied to all participants. Results: IDE levels were significantly lower in patients compared to the controls and negatively correlated with glucose (P<0.05). Conclusions: IDE might contribute to the pathogenesis of MetS, and the its measurement may be useful as an important biomarker in this syndrome.