Low serum levels of C1q/TNF-related protein-14 (CTRP14) in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes patients

To measure serum C1q/tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related proteins (CTRPs) levels in newly diagnosed, treatment-naïve men with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and healthy controls, and to investigate their associations with metabolic parameters, the presence of T2DM and insulin resistance (IR)-related indices. A total of 100 participants were enrolled, including 50 newly diagnosed, treatment-naïve men with T2DM and 50 healthy male controls were enrolled in this case-control study. Serum CTRP14 levels were significantly lower in patients with T2DM than in controls (p = 0.03). Binary logistic regression showed that lower CTRP14 levels were associated with increased odds of T2DM in both crude and adjusted models, with the association remaining significant after adjustment for age and body mass index (BMI). In patients with T2DM, CTRP14 levels were associated with BMI, metabolic score for insulin resistance (METS-IR), and single-point insulin sensitivity estimator (SPISE) index. These findings suggest that CTRP14 may be involved in metabolic dysregulation associated with IR. Further longitudinal and mechanistic studies are needed to confirm these findings and clarify the biological significance of these associations.