Association of Serum Ghrelin, High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein, and Vitamin D With Osteoarthritis in Patients with and without Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32007/jfacmedbaghdad3292Keywords:
Ghrelin, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, Osteoarthritis, Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Vitamin DAbstract
Background: Osteoarthritis and type 2 diabetes mellitus tend to cluster in the same patients and appear to share several pathogenic threads, disturbed appetite-regulating signaling, persistent inflammation and a tendency toward vitamin D inadequacy.
Objectives: To compare serum ghrelin, C-reactive protein and vitamin D in osteoarthritis patients with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus, and to explore how these markers relate to metabolic indices.
Methods: Ninety adults were divided equally into three groups; osteoarthritis with type 2 diabetes (group 1), osteoarthritis only (group 2) and healthy controls (group 3). Ghrelin, C-reactive protein, vitamin D, glycated hemoglobin, fasting glucose, insulin and the homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance were measured. Between-group comparisons used one-way analysis of variance with the Tukey honest significant difference test; associations were tested by Pearson correlation and multiple linear regression.
Results: Glycated hemoglobin, fasting glucose, insulin and the homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance were all higher in group 1 than in groups 2 and 3. Ghrelin and vitamin D were lower, and C-reactive protein higher, in both osteoarthritis groups compared to controls. Within group 1, ghrelin showed a significant inverse correlation with fasting insulin (r = −0.45, 95% CI −0.70 to −0.11); no significant correlations were found with vitamin D, C-reactive protein, fasting blood glucose or the homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance. In multivariable analysis, body mass index (β = −0.32), C-reactive protein, vitamin D and insulin were independently associated with serum ghrelin (R²= 0.42; F= 8.3).
Conclusions: Reduced ghrelin and vitamin D, together with raised C-reactive protein, appeared to be a feature of osteoarthritis, especially when accompanied by type 2 diabetes. This combination was consistent with a metabolic–inflammatory phenotype
Received: 16 Feb. 2026,
Revised:20 Sept 2026,
Accepted: 25 Sept. 2026,
Published Online: 30 Sept. 2026
Published 01. Oct. 2026
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Copyright (c) 2026 Ghid H. Abdulhadi, Rana A. Hamdi, Ammar A. Jasim, Rawia A. Zayed
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