Research Article Details
Article ID: | A24840 |
PMID: | 22438225 |
Source: | J Clin Endocrinol Metab |
Title: | Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF-21) and its relation to obesity, metabolic syndrome, and nonalcoholic fatty liver in children: a longitudinal analysis. |
Abstract: | CONTEXT: Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF-21), a potent activator of glucose uptake, has been proposed to be related to insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome (MetS), nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and weight status. OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to study the relationships between FGF-21, parameters of MetS, and NAFLD before and after weight loss in obese children. DESIGN AND SETTING: This was a cross-sectional comparison between obese and normal-weight children and longitudinal 1-yr follow-up study in obese children participating in a lifestyle intervention in a primary care setting. PATIENTS: Patients included 60 obese and 40 lean children of same age, gender, and pubertal stage. INTERVENTION: The outpatient 1-yr intervention program was based on exercise, behavior, and nutrition therapy. MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURES: We evaluated fasting serum FGF-21, weight status [body mass index (BMI) expressed as sd score (SDS)], body fat, insulin resistance index (homeostasis model assessment), leptin, transaminases, free fatty acids (FFA), waist circumference, blood pressure, and lipids. RESULTS: Compared with the normal-weight children, obese children demonstrated significantly (P < 0.001) increased FGF-21, leptin, and homeostasis model assessment levels. FGF-21 was significantly (P < 0.05) correlated to BMI, SDS-BMI, FFA, and leptin both in cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses but not to any additional analyzed parameter. Children with and without MetS or NAFLD did not differ significantly with respect to their FGF-21 concentrations. A decrease of SDS-BMI was associated with a significant (P = 0.038) decrease of FGF-21 levels (mean -34%). CONCLUSIONS: FGF-21 concentrations are reversibly increased in obese children and are related to leptin and FFA. However, our data do not support a significant relationship between FGF-21, insulin resistance, and features of MetS or NAFLD in children. |
DOI: | 10.1210/jc.2012-1221 |

Strategy ID | Therapy Strategy | Synonyms | Therapy Targets | Therapy Drugs | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
S08 | Lifestyle measures | Lifestyle intervention; weight loss; diet adaptation; dietary interventions; lifestyle modifications; Exercise | -- | -- | Details |
S01 | Improve insulin resistance | insulin sensitizer; insulin resistance; glucose tolerance | Biguanide: increases 5-AMP activated protein kinase signaling; SGLT-2 inhibitor; Thiazalidinedione: selective PPAR-γ agonists; GLP-1 agonist | Metformin; Empagliflozin; Canagliflozin; Rosiglitazone; Pioglitazone; Liraglutide | Details |
Diseases ID | DO ID | Disease Name | Definition | Class | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
I05 | 9352 | Type 2 diabetes mellitus | A diabetes that is characterized by chronic hyperglycaemia with disturbances of carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both. A diabetes mellitus that is characterized by high blood sugar, insulin resistance, and relative lack of insulin. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabetes, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabetes_mellitus_type_2 | disease of metabolism/inherited metabolic disorder/ carbohydrate metabolic disorder/glucose metabolism disease/diabetes/ diabetes mellitus | Details |
I14 | 9970 | Obesity | An overnutrition that is characterized by excess body fat, traditionally defined as an elevated ratio of weight to height (specifically 30 kilograms per meter squared), has_material_basis_in a multifactorial etiology related to excess nutrition intake, decreased caloric utilization, and genetic susceptibility, and possibly medications and certain disorders of metabolism, endocrine function, and mental illness. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obesity | disease of metabolism/acquired metabolic disease/ nutrition disease/overnutrition | Details |
Drug ID | Drug Name | Type | DrugBank ID | Targets | Category | Latest Progress | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
D579 | Emfilermin | Miscellany | -- | adipocytes | Enhance lipid metabolism | Under investigation | Details |
D328 | Serine | Chemical drug | DB00133 | SRR | Improve insulin resistance | Under clinical trials | Details |
D182 | Insulin | Biological drug | DB00030 | INSR agonist; CPE modulator&product of | -- | Under clinical trials | Details |
D316 | S-adenosyl-L-methionine | Chemical drug | DB00118 | GNMT cofactor | Antiviral | Under clinical trials | Details |
D094 | Cysteamine | Chemical drug | DB00847 | GSS stimulant | Renal drug | Under clinical trials | Details |
D095 | Cysteamine bitartrate | Chemical drug | DB00847 | -- | -- | Under clinical trials | Details |