Using amplitude-phase parameters of circadian rhythms as diagnostic markers of carbohydrate metabolism disorders
Authors: Yuzhakova A. E. , Nelaeva A. A. , Nelaeva Yu. V. , Gubin D. G. 
Published: May 2022

BACKGROUND: With the development of visceral obesity, against the background of insulin resistance (IR), lipo- and glucose toxicity in tissues progresses, which disrupts the metabolic balance of the body, and is the main factor in the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2). To date, a growing number of publications highlighting the role of circadian rhythms in the control of gluconeogenesis and lipogenesis. In the context of the development of DM2, the process of rhythm mismatch (desynchronosis) is increasingly mentioned, for the diagnosis of which the calculation of amplitude-phase parameters is used. Thus, the study of circadian rhythm disturbances using amplitude-phase parameters and factors influencing them is of particular interest in individuals with visceral obesity and prediabetes, since the data obtained can be used as markers for preclinical diagnosis of DM2.

AIM: To identify significant differences in the parameters (amplitude, acrophase) of circadian rhythms (fasting glycemia, basal body temperature, heart rate) as markers of desynchronosis in groups without carbohydrate metabolism disorders, but with the presence of visceral obesity, prediabetes (impaired fasting glycemia, impaired glucose tolerance test) and DM2 and obesity.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was conducted in individuals with visceral obesity, as well as the presence of prediabetes or DM2, with a disease experience of not more than 5 years.In accordance with the study design, every 3 hours during the day, the participants made self-measurements of blood glucose at home (using individual glucometers), basal body temperature (BTT) in the armpit (using a mercury thermometer) and heart rate (HR) ( with the help of an electronic tonometer), with the fixation of the results in self-control diaries. To assess the reliability of the circadian rhythms of the studied indicators, the interpretation of chronobiological parameters (MESORa-Midline Estimating Statistic of Rhytm; amplitude; acrophase) was carried out using a single сosinor analysis.

RESULTS: Of the 120 study participants, 73% were women and 27% were men. Mean age of participants was 58.6[52.2;56.7] years, BMI 31.3[29.7;33.9] and presence of visceral obesity WC 100 [93.8;104.7]. When conducting cosinor analysis, the daily rhythms of physiological indicators of fasting glycemia, BTT and heart rate differ from normal already in the group with visceral obesity without carbohydrate metabolism disorders and prediabetes, in the form of a decrease in the amplitude of daily rhythms (p<0.001), with a shift in their acrophases (p <0.001), no dynamics of night BBT decrease (р<0.001).

CONCLUSION: Integral amplitude-phase parameters of circadian rhythms of physiological parameters (fasting glycemia, basal body temperature, heart rate), as markers of desynchronosis, can be used in the presence of visceral obesity for preclinical diagnosis of prediabetes and DM2, which will have a preventive focus. This method of chronodiagnostics can be useful in health and prevention centers for people at risk of developing DM2.