Background: Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) is a chronic metabolic disease associated with increased mortality and morbidity. High levels of glucose can damage organs, such as the kidneys, eyes and nerves. Oxytocin (OXT) can regulate feeding behavior, energy balance, insulin sensitivity and insulin secretion. The OXT Receptor (OXTR) mediates the action of OXT on cells. The role of OXTR polymorphism in carbohydrate metabolism disorders, especially in T2D, is not clear.

Objectives: The current study aimed to investigate the possible associations between OXTR polymorphism and the risk of developing T2D.

Patients and Methods: To study genetic polymorphisms, 120 patients with T2D and 120 controls were selected. Genotyping of the OXTR rs53576 and rs2254298 variants was performed using allele-specific Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) PCR, respectively. Data were analyzed using Chi-square analysis and logistic regression.

Results: The logistic regression analysis suggested no significant associations of OXTR Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) rs22542987 in genotypes (OR = 1.054, 95% CI: 0.557 - 1.995, P = 0.871) and alleles of patients with T2D in the study population (OR = 1.004, 95% CI: 0.547 - 1.845, P = 1). The rs53576 polymorphism showed the TT genotype (OR = 0.466, %95CI: 0.22 - 0.94, P = 0.035), as well as T allele (OR = 0.66, %95 CI: (0.46 - 0.95), P = 0.03) in the patients and control group with a significant difference suggesting the protective role this polymorphism plays in T2D.

Conclusions: Our findings showed that the genotype TT rs53576 OXTR, as well as T allele had significant differences in our population and play a protective role. Therefore, it is suggested to place more interest on these OXTR in large populations and different ethnic groups.