Metabolic profile and prolactin serum levels in men with type 2 diabetes mellitus: Old-new rubric

BACKGROUND: Prolactin (PRL) is involved in the regulation of glucose metabolism since high PRL serum levels are associated with low incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Therefore, the aim of the present study was to assess the metabolic effects of PRL on glucose homeostasis in men with T2DM. METHODS: Eighty male patients with T2DM compared with 25 male healthy controls matched with patients for age and weight were divided into four groups: Group (A): patients with T2DM on metformin (n = 29), Group (B): patients with T2DM on glyburide (n = 30), Group (C): patients with T2DM on glyburide plus metformin (n = 21), and Group (D): healthy male subjects as control (n = 25). Body mass index (BMI) and blood pressure measurements were determined. Fasting blood glucose (FBG), glycated hemoglobin, total cholesterol, triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, atherogenic index, fasting serum insulin, insulin resistance (IR), and β-cell function of the pancreas were determined by homeostatic model assessment-2 (HOMA-IR). Furthermore, C-reactive protein and PRL serum level were determined in patients with T2DM and healthy control men. RESULTS: BMI of T2DM patients was higher as compared with control (P = 0.003). Combination therapy (glyburide plus metformin) in patients with T2DM showed better effect on most of glycemic indices and lipid profile than glyburide or metformin monotherapy (P < 0.05). PRL serum level was higher in patients with T2DM as compared with control (P = 0.001). PRL serum level was high in glyburide-treated patients as compared with metformin-treated patients (P = 0.002). CONCLUSION: This study concludes that elevated PRL serum level in patients with T2DM is associated with diabetic complications. Diabetic pharmacotherapy mainly metformin reduced PRL serum level in patients with T2DM through amelioration of IR.