Low serum amylase in association with metabolic syndrome and diabetes: A community-based study

Abstract

BackgroundLow serum amylase levels may reflect impaired exocrine-endocrine relationship in the pancreas. However, few clinical studies have addressed this issue. Therefore, in this epidemiological study, we investigated whether low serum amylase was associated with the pathogenesis of impaired insulin action: metabolic syndrome (MetS) and diabetes.Research Design and MethodsSerum amylase, cardiometabolic risk factors, MetS (Adult Treatment Panel III criteria), and diabetes were examined in 2,425 asymptomatic subjects aged 30-80 years who underwent medical checkups recently (April 2009-March 2010) and 5 years ago.ResultsClinical variables, except for age and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), shifted favorably with increasing serum amylase levels. Plasma glucose levels at 1- and 2-hr during OGTT increased significantly with decreasing serum amylase levels. Multiple logistic analyses showed that, compared with highest quartile of serum amylase, lowest quartile was associated with increased risk for MetS and diabetes after adjustment for confounding factors [odds ratio (95% CI), 2.07 (1.39-3.07) and 2.76 (1.49-5.11), respectively]. In subjects who underwent checkups 5 years ago (n = 571), lower amylase at the previous checkup were associated with larger numbers of metabolic abnormalities at the recent checkup. The fluctuation over time in serum amylase levels in subjects with low serum amylase at the previous checkup was slight and was unaffected by kidney dysfunction.ConclusionsOur results indicate that low serum amylase is associated with increased risk of metabolic abnormalities, MetS and diabetes. These results suggest a pancreatic exocrine-endocrine relationship in certain clinical conditions.

QTL analysis of clinical-chemical traits in an F2intercross between Landrace and Korean native pigs

“…Recent reports indicated that low serum amylase concentrations are associated with increased possibilities for metabolic abnormalities, prevalence of metabolic syndrome, and diabetes. In addition, it can be useful for identifying metabolic syndrome, although further research is needed to understand the mechanism behind these associations (36,39,59).…”

Serum amylase and lipase levels in type 2 diabetes mellitus

“…For many years, it has been thought that low serum amylase level reflects diffuse pancreatic damage due to advanced pancreatic disease. But now a days, several studies shown that this low level of serum amylase is also associated with metabolic syndrome and diabetes mellitus 10 .…”

Starch Digestion–Related Amylase Genetic Variant Affects 2-Year Changes in Adiposity in Response to Weight-Loss Diets: The POUNDS Lost Trial

“…In epidemiological studies, low serum concentrations of amylase have been associated with elevated BMI (16–19), waist circumference (WC) (16,20), or visceral adipose tissue area (21). Furthermore, studies have suggested that AMY1 copy number also plays a role in glucose uptake and glucose metabolism (11,22).…”