Contribution of a first-degree family history of diabetes to increased serum adipocyte fatty acid binding protein levels independent of body fat content and distribution

Abstract

Background/Objectives:First-degree relatives of patients with diabetes bear an increased risk of diabetes, overweight/obesity and cardiovascular disease. Accumulating evidence indicates that circulating concentrations of adipokines are altered in individuals with a first-degree family history of diabetes (FHD), but the adipokine adipocyte fatty acid binding protein (A-FABP) has been rarely studied in this population. The present study explored the association between a first-degree FHD and serum A-FABP levels.Subjects/Methods:A total of 1962 normoglycemic participants were divided into subgroups of men, premenopausal women and postmenopausal women. Serum A-FABP levels were measured using a sandwich enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay. Abdominal fat distribution, including visceral fat area and subcutaneous fat area, was assessed by magnetic resonance imaging.Results:Totals of 792 men, 544 premenopausal women and 626 postmenopausal women were enrolled. Serum A-FABP levels were much higher in subjects with a first-degree FHD than in those without an FHD in all subgroups (all P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis revealed an independent and positive relationship between a first-degree FHD and serum A-FABP levels in men (P=0.029), premenopausal women (P=0.036) and postmenopausal women (P=0.008). Multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that a first-degree FHD was an independent factor positively associated with serum A-FABP levels in men (standardized β=0.068, P=0.029), premenopausal women (standardized β=0.090, P=0.018) and postmenopausal women (standardized β=0.102, P=0.004).Conclusions:Serum A-FABP levels were increased significantly in normoglycemic individuals with a first-degree FHD. The contribution of the first-degree FHD to the elevated serum A-FABP levels was independent of total body fat content and abdominal fat distribution. Thus, use of serum A-FABP as a biomarker in the first-degree relatives of patients with diabetes may result in overestimation of the risk of obesity-induced metabolic disease and cardiovascular disease.

Serum adipocyte fatty acid‐binding protein levels: An indicator of non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease in Chinese individuals

“…In addition, our previous studies have reported a significantly positive correlation between serum A‐FABP levels and body fat parameters, such as BMI, W and HOMA‐IR, in 2108 non‐diabetic individuals . The relationship remained unchanged even when we further eliminated the influence of hyperglycaemia . The aforementioned studies suggested that serum A‐FABP levels had a close association with IR.…”

“…Recently, basic studies have confirmed that A‐FABP has an effect on inflammatory responses and glycolipid metabolism and plays a key role in obesity, IR and dyslipidaemia . In clinical studies, serum A‐FABP levels were found to contribute to metabolic disorders such as IR, obesity and cardiovascular disease . We have previously observed a significantly positive correlation among serum A‐FABP levels, body fat parameters and IR .…”

“…IR plays an important role in the onset of obesity‐related NAFLD . Previous studies have revealed a relationship between serum A‐FABP levels and IR . Simon et al found that a decrease in circulating A‐FABP levels was associated with an improvement in the HOMA‐IR index among a severely obese cohort undergoing surgical gastric bypass.…”

Regular Consumption of Soft Drinks is Associated with Type 2 Diabetes Incidence in Mexican Adults: Findings from a Prospective Cohort Study.

“…Due to type 2 diabetes being an inherited disease, we considered relevant to understand if the increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes in individuals with a rst-degree family history of diabetes (15), would further play a role in modifying the association of soft drinks and the risk of type 2 diabetes. We hypothesized that having a family history of diabetes could have a synergistic effect with soft drinks that could increase the type 2 diabetes risk.…”

First-degree family history of diabetes and its relationship with serum osteocalcin levels independent of liver fat content in a non-diabetic Chinese cohort

“…Moreover, genetic defects in FDR can regulate the transcription of cytokine genes, resulting in abnormalities of the secretion and metabolism of cytokines [4]. Our previous studies have found that the levels of adipokines in FDR are significantly increased, possibly because of impaired insulin function [5].…”