Objective:To detect plasma vascular endothelial growth factor B(VEGF-B)in healthy

impaired glucose regulation(IGR)and newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)subjects and to investigate the relationship between plasma VEGF-B levels and the first-phase of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion from pancreatic β cell in individuals with different glucose tolerance. Methods:A clinical trial was conducted involving 45 patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM group)

37 patients with impaired glucose regulation(IGR group)

and 39 normal glucose tolerant subjects(NGT group);all of them underwent intravenous glucose tolerance test(IVGTT). Fasting plasma VEGF-B levels were assayed by ELISA and fasting plasma free fatty acids(FFA)levels were measured by enzymatic method. Plasma glucose

insulin

hemoglobin A1c(Hb A1c)

and lipids were also detected. The first-phase insulin secretion function was evaluated by acute insulin response(AIR)

the area under the curve of the first-phase(0-10 min)insulin secretion(AUC) and glucose disposition index(GDI)

and β cell function index(HOMA-β) and insulin resistance index(HOMA-IR)were assessed by homeostasis model assessment.Results:plasma VEGF-B levels were higher in T2 DM group and IGR group than in NGT group(P=0.000

0.004)

being the highest in T2 DM group(P=0.010). Plasma VEGF-B levels were negatively correlated with AIR

AUC

GDI

HOMA-β(P=0.006

0.005

0.010

0.000)

and positively correlated with FPG

2h PG

Hb A1 c

TG

FFA

FINS

HOMA-IR(P =0.000 except FINS

P =0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that higher VEGF-B levels(145.59 pg/ml-180.07 pg/ml

OR

3.55 [95%CI

1.05-12.02] and >180.07 pg/ml

OR

3.64 [95%CI

1.16-11.42])were related with greater probability of β cell hypofunction

compared with low VEGF-B levels(<145.59 pg/ml). After adjusting for TG or FFA

the association between VEGF-B levels and β cell hypofunction disappeared(all P >0.05). Conclusion:Plasma VEGF-B levels are increased in Chinese patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus

and are strongly associated with glucose and lipid metabolism and the first-phase insulin secretion function of β cell. VEGF-B may be involved in the mechanism ofβ cell hypofunction in T2 DM.