Endocrine Abstracts

Background and Aim: Betatrophin has been observed to play an important role in regulating lipid and glucose metabolism, at least in adults. FGF21 is one of the members of endocrine arm of FGF family and its actions as a glucose and lipids metabolism regulator. FGF21 is rapidly emerging as an attractive target in the treatment of metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. They may serve as both risk factors and biomarkers of chronic metabolic disorders. This study aimed to investigate the changes in betatrophin and FGF21 levels in Arab adolescents with varying levels of BMI and glycemia after a 12-month lifestyle modification program.

Methods: A total of 218 children and adolescents (Male=106, Female=112) aged 13-17 years were included and stratified based on baseline BMI [normal (n=45, overweight (n=77 and obese (n=96] before undergoing a 12-month intervention program. Anthropometric and fasting blood samples were taken at baseline and after 12 months of intervention. Glycemic and lipid profiles were measured routinely. Betatrophin and FGF21 were assessed using commercially available assays.

Results: At baseline, obese adolescents had a higher betatrophin level [0.7 ng/ml (0.4–1.3), P=0.032]. Follow-up BMI was significantly lower in the obese (P<0.001) and overweight (P=0.018) groups. However, in obesity adolescents, betatrophin levels and BMI were significantly lower after 12-month lifestyle intervention [0.5 ng/ml (0.1–1.1), P=0.032; 33.1±7.5), P<0.001 respectively] and FGF21 was significantly higher in prediabetic and obesity subjects [194.4 (103.4 - 295.4), P=0.017; 208.0 (115.8 - 362.0), P=0.003 respectively]. Follow-up lipid profile and insulin were significantly higher in all obese participants (P<0.05). Finally, betatrophin levels of those who achieved 5% weight loss (n=25) showed no significant difference after follow-up (P=0.59).

Conclusion: Changes significantly in FGF21 and betatrophin after lifestyle modification program. An increase in FGF21 and a decrease in betatrophin were associated with clinical characteristics related to the adrenergic and lipolytic responses to a healthy lifestyle.