Plasma miR-513a-5p as a Potential Biomarker for Diagnosis of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients

Background: The current study aims to investigate the relationship between plasma levels of miR-513a-5p and lipid metabolism and insulin resistance in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Methods: Two hundred patients with T2DM were selected, including 104 patients with NAFLD diagnosed by ultrasound and 96 patients without NAFLD. They were divided into combined group (T2DM/NAFLD) and control group (T2DM). Height, weight, blood lipid, and blood sugar were measured. Additionally, body mass index (BMI) and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index were calculated. RT-PCR was carried out to analyze the level of plasma miR-513a-5p. The correlation between plasma miR-513a-5p level and clinical indicators was analyzed by Pearson's correlation assay. Results: Compared with the T2DM group, BMI, AST, ALT, TG, GGT, LDL-C, 2hPBG, Fins, 2hIns, HbAIc (%), and HOMA-IR were significantly increased in the T2DM/NAFLD group, and plasma miR-513a-5p levels were significantly decreased. Pearson's correlation analysis showed that miR-513a-5p was negatively correlated with ALT, LDL-C, 2h Ins, and HomA-IR Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis showed plasma miR-513a-5p could differentiate T2DM/NAFLD patients from NAFLD patients. Conclusions: Decreased plasma miR-513a-5p level may act as a potential biomarker for diagnosis of NAFLD in T2DM patients.