ASPARTATE AND ALANINE AMINOTRANSFERASES (AST AND ALT) ACTIVITIES IN DIABETES MELLITUS PATIENTS ATTENDING USMANU DANFODIYO UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL, SOKOTO.

Abstract

ABSTRACT Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a group of metabolic diseases characterized by hyperglycemia with disturbances of carbohydrates, fat and protein metabolism resulting from insufficient insulin secretion, defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both. Among various complications associated with DM, different patterns of liver diseases like fatty liver and cirrhosis account to be crucial ones. Early assessments of these liver enzymes (AST and ALT) provides better information for the management and cure of possible liver damages in a diabetic population. This study was carried out to assess the activity of aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase (AST, ALT) liver enzymes. The study was conducted in Usman Danfodiyo Teaching Hospital, Sokoto. 30 diabetic patients and 30 apparently healthy individuals were recruited. Age of selected group ranged between 30-50years. Five ml of venous blood was collected from each participant in heparinized containers following the standard procedures. Fasting blood glucose and Transaminases were assayed using Trinder’s and Reitman and Frankel’s method respectively. Mean±SEM of AST, ALT of diabetic patients were (49.27±1.68), (54.93±2.64), (36.53±2.13) and (38.47±1.98) respectively which were significantly (p<0.05) higher compared to control groups (31.70±1.67), (30.63±1.65), (23.80±0.93) and (22.26±1.09) respectively. It is concluded that diabetes mellitus is one of the causes of increased plasma level of AST, ALT liver enzymes, this fact should be taken in consideration, and liver function test should be performed regularly to diabetic patients.