June 25 (HealthDay News) -- A hormone might be an effective biomarker to help improve treatment of type 2 diabetes, U.S. researchers report.

Adiponectin is a metabolic hormone that regulates a number of processes, including glucose regulation and metabolism of fat for energy production. Previous research has shown an association between adiponectin and insulin sensitivity.

This new study found that levels of the hormone in patients with type 2 diabetes helped predict how patients responded to certain diabetes drugs. The researchers' analysis of data from several clinical trials revealed that levels of adiponectin in the blood are able to predict activation of receptors called PPARs, which assist the genes that help cells respond to insulin.

The results support the possible use of adiponectin as a biomarker to monitor glucose tolerance and to predict patient response to diabetes drugs called thiazolidinediones.

The study appears in the June 24 online edition of Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics.

SOURCE: Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics, news release, June 24, 2009