Serum fibroblast growth factor-21 in relation to insulin resistance in Egyptian women with metabolic syndrome

Background
Metabolic syndrome (MetSyn) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) are globally and exponentially increasing. One of the important cytokines that plays a role in metabolic modulation is fibroblast growth factor-21 (FGF-21).


Aim
The aim was to assess serum FGF-21 in Egyptian women having MetSyn with and without T2D and to study its relation to insulin resistance.


Patients and methods
This is a case–control study. Blood samples were obtained from 30 women fulfilling the criteria for diagnosis of MetSyn (15 women with and 15 without T2D) and 15 age-matched controls. Serum levels of FGF-21 were quantitatively determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.


Results
Patients with MetSyn had significantly elevated FGF-21 values. This was more pronounced in the group having MetSyn including T2D. FGF-21 levels correlated positively with obesity, insulin resistance indices, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level and negatively with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. FGF-21 was significantly related to waist circumference, the main visceral obesity index by linear regression analysis (P<0.007). Logistic regression analysis demonstrated an independent association between MetSyn and FGF-21 value.


Conclusion
MetSyn was found to be associated with serum FGF-21. This association was stronger than that with homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance and fasting plasma glucose. This suggests that serum FGF-21 may be used as a potential diagnostic biomarker for MetSyn.