Evaluation of Serum Fasting Insulin Concentration in Non-diabetic Patients with and without Coronary Artery Disease

Background: Previous studies have been demonstrated the effect of fasting insulin concentration in coronary artery disease of patients with diabetes mellitus. Because of discrepancy in recent studies about this association in non-diabetic patients, we evaluated this effect. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, coronary artery angiography was done for 110 non-diabetic patients, and they were divided into two groups of normal coronary artery as control group and those with coronary artery stenosis as case group. Serum levels of glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and insulin were evaluated after 12 hours fasting period. One-way ANOVA and t tests were used for statistical analysis. Findings: Fasting blood sugar (FBS) in non-diabetic patients with and without coronary artery disease was 94.4 ± 14.9 and 90.52 ± 13.82 mg/dl, respectively (P = 0.150). The mean insulin concentration was 12.77 ± 3.29 mIU/l in case and 7.01 ± 3.25 mIU/l in control group (P = 0.001). We did not find any difference between men and women according to their fasting insulin concentration (P = 0.210). Conclusion: Higher serum level of fasting insulin seems to have correlation with coronary artery disease in non-diabetic patients; but further studies with larger population study are needed for better evaluation.