Serum Visfatin Levels, Adiposity and Glucose Metabolism in Obese Adolescents

Abstract

Objective: Visfatin, an adipokine, has insulin-mimetic effects. The main determinants of both the production and the physiologic role of visfatin are still unclear. The aim of this study is to determine the relation of serum visfatin to adiposity and glucose metabolism.Methods: 40 pubertal adolescents (20 females, 20 males; age range: 9-17 years) with exogenous obesity and 20 age- and sex-matched healthy adolescents (10 females, 10 males) were enrolled in the study. Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed in the obese group. Serum glucose, insulin and visfatin levels were analyzed in the fasting state in the controls and at 0, 60 and 120 minutes during the OGTT in the obese group.Results: The obese group had higher serum visfatin levels than the control group [11.6 (3.3-26) ng/mL vs. 7.5 (3.3-10.5) ng/mL, p<0.001]. Visfatin levels were correlated positively with body mass index, waist/hip ratio, insulin, and homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance and negatively with glucose/insulin ratio in the combined group (obese subjects plus controls). Visfatin levels were essentially similar in obese subjects with and without insulin resistance (p>0.05). Serum visfatin levels did not change at 60 and 120 minutes of the OGTT compared to the baseline levels (p>0.05).Conclusions: Serum visfatin levels are elevated in obese adolescents and do not change with acute changes in glucose metabolism. Visfatin levels are related with adiposity and glucose metabolism parameters. However, the role and contribution of adiposity and glucose metabolism to the circulating visfatin levels in obese patients remain to be explored. Conflict of interest:None declared.

Visfatin serum level and expression in subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue in prepubertal boys

“…There are still some controversies about visfatin expression in human with different body fat distribution, activity and adipokine synthesis during maturation and in adulthood and its role in obesity. Previous research showed serum visfatin level is increased in obese adolescents and adults compared with eutrophic examinees; also, serum visfatin level positively correlates with BMI and with the visceral type of obesity . Our results showed that visfatin serum level in healthy prepubertal boys varies between 0.6 and 15 ng mL −1 , but it does not correlate with anthropometrical and biochemical measures in healthy prepubertal boys; therefore, visfatin serum level cannot be recommended as a marker of adiposity at these age group of patients, which corresponds to the conclusion of the PIAMA birth cohort study .…”

“…The subjects included in the present study were metabolically healthy children with normal glucose level, lipidogram and systolic/diastolic blood pressure. The serum level and mRNA visfatin level in SAT and VAT with parameters of lipidograms and blood pressure did not show significant correlation in these healthy patients, which can be explained by the underdeveloped inflammation of adipose tissue without pathological impact on metabolism, indicating that the maturation physiology and ageing process have an important part in the development of pathophysiological processes .…”

“…The relation of visfatin serum level with anthropometric parameters, obesity, lipid and insulin resistance in children and adults is unclear . In obese children, it has been shown that visfatin positively correlates to body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and waist to hip ratio (WHR) , and its genetic variants are associated with adiposity, obesity‐related morbidities and adverse cardiometabolic parameters , and also with glucose metabolism parameters ; taken all together, it is a part of a complex metabolic syndrome. Latest studies in adolescents and adults indicate that visfatin could be considered as a possible marker of visceral adiposity or obesity‐related inflammation .…”

Relation of Osteoprotegerin , Visfatin and Ghrelin to Metabolic Syndrome in Type 2 Diabetic Patients

“…Several reports confirmed our finding by showing increased circulatingvisfatin levels inT2DM patients, (7,22) however, other studies did not support this result consistently. (23)(24)(25) Regardless of this discrepancy, serum visfatin was reported to be elevated in patients with overweight/obesity problems and in subjects with metabolic syndrome. (26,27) In contrast to our data, Chen et al (7) showed that visfatin is not related to most anthropometric parameters and metabolic syndrome related parameters.…”

Serum visfatin level in obese Egyptian children and adolescents and its relation with metabolic syndrome

“…However, in obese individuals, there is an increased synthesis of visfatin by macrophages in the visceral adipose tissue [6]. Visfatin exerts insulin-mimetic actions through insulin receptors [7]. This adipokine binds to the insulin receptor at a site distinct from insulin.…”