Elevated White Blood Cell Count in Subjects With Impaired Glucose Tolerance

Abstract

OBJECTIVE -Impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and impaired fasting glucose (IFG) differ in their risk of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, but previous cross-sectional studies have suggested little difference in their levels of lipids or blood pressure. We compared the white blood cell (WBC) count between subjects with IFG and IGT.RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS -The subjects were 4,720 nondiabetic Japanese men aged 24 -84 years. Based on the 75-g oral glucose tolerance test, the subjects were classified into the following four groups: normal fasting glucose/normal glucose tolerance (n ϭ 3,753), isolated IFG (n ϭ 290), isolated IGT (n ϭ 476), and IFG/IGT (n ϭ 201). We compared the WBC count among the four groups and investigated variables that showed a significant association with the WBC count.RESULTS -The isolated IGT group had a significantly higher WBC count than the isolated IFG group (6,530 vs. 6,210/mm 3 , P Ͻ 0.05). By stepwise analyses, age, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, fasting insulin, and 2-h postchallenge plasma glucose (PG) showed an independent association with the WBC count (adjusted R 2 ϭ 0.057). In the analysis stratified by smoking status, the WBC count was independently associated with 2-h PG and triglycerides, irrespective of smoking status.CONCLUSIONS -Individuals with isolated IGT had a significantly higher WBC count than those with isolated IFG. The WBC count was associated with 2-h PG and various components of the metabolic syndrome.

The association of total and differential white blood cell count with metabolic syndrome in type 2 diabetic patients

“…This is in agreement with the findings that WBC count is associated with insulin resistance [20,21], blood pressure [22], insulin concentration [22], triglyceride [22], and the components of MS [23].…”

“…In our study, total WBC count was associated with postprandial 2 h glucose concentration, however, it was not associated with fasting glucose concentration. WBC count was independently related to postchallenge 2 h glucose concentration [21], and another inflammatory marker C-reactive protein (CRP) level is more strongly associated with postchallenge glucose than with fasting glucose in nondiabetic subjects [28]. According to previous studies, IL-6 increases postprandially, which is in parallel with glucose [29].…”

Hematopoietic ABCA1 deletion promotes monocytosis and worsens diet-induced insulin resistance in mice

“…There is a strong association between obesity and leukocytosis, particularly of the myeloid lineage ( 6,28 ). A recent pioneering study has shown that MPC proliferation and monocytosis drive macrophage accumulation and insulin resistance in obesity ( 4 ).…”

The relationship between some biochemical and hematological changes in type 2 diabetes mellitus

“…The study by Vozarova et al, 2002 reported that there is relationship between WBC and diabetes mellitus as a result of increased inflammatory mediators. Inflammatory agents, insulin and human blood components form a critical signal for any abnormalities, resulting in invasion by foreign agents and/or inflammation (Ohshita et al, 2004). These latter factors can induce defense mechanisms and contribute to changes in levels of blood parameters, including mean white blood cell count, mean platelet count, and phagocyte percentage (Weyer et al, 2000).…”