Evaluation of Serum Levels of NUCB2 in Patients with type2 Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a significant global health issue, with a prevalence of 13.4% Among adult age 20-79 years . Nucleobindin-2 (NUCB2), the precursor of nesfatin-1, controls glucose homeostasis and nesfatin-1 secretion. The aim of this study is to evaluate  serumNUCB2 levels in Iraqi adults with type2 diabetes mellitus. Eighty participants were included: 45 T2DM patients (23 males, 22 females; age 40–81 years, mean ± SD: 55.91 ± 12.00; median: 56) and 35 healthy controls (18 males, 17 females; age 40–60 years, mean ± SD: 47.43 ± 7.48; median: 45), all from Wasit  Province, Iraq. ELISA was used to measure serum NUCB2 levels. Serum NUCB2 was significantly higher in T2DM patients (3.208 ± 0.225 ng/mL) than in controls (2.634 ± 0.043 ng/mL; P = 0.029). Male patients exhibited greater elevation (3.682 ± 0.414 ng/mL) than females (2.712 ± 0.080 ng/mL; P = 0.029), while healthy males and females had similar levels. conclusion , NUCB2 plays an important role in metabolic regulation in type 2 diabetes mellitus, reflecting its contribution to glucose homeostasis and energy balance. Circulating NUCB2 levels are elevated in T2DM and may reflect early compensatory metabolic or endocrine adaptations, particularly in male patients.