Serum FGF-21 levels in individuals with prediabetes and newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus

Abstract

Aim: To compare serum fibroblast growth factor-21 (FGF-21) levels in healthy individuals, patients with impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT); combined prediabetic patients (IFG+IGT), and patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). In addition, the relationship between serum FGF-21 levels and demographic characteristics, glucose metabolism and laboratory parameters predicting cardiovascular disease risk factors were investigated.

Method: Age, gender, waist and hip circumference measurements, and body mass index (BMI) values were reported for all study groups. Fasting serum insulin, c-peptide levels, insulin/c-peptide ratio, homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) value, serum lipids, serum cortisol, and plasma fibrinogen levels were all evaluated.

Result: There were no statistically significant variations in the gender distribution of male and female groups (p = 0.340). For age, BMI, waist and hip circumference, no statistically significant differences were observed between groups 2, 3, and 4. When the groups were compared for FGF-21 levels, moderate differences were found between Groups 1 and 2 (p = 0.04), highly significant differences between Groups 1 and 3 (p <0.0001), and no significant differences were found between Groups 2, 3, and 4 (p >0.05).

Conclusions: Serum FGF-21 levels were significantly increased in prediabetic patients and T2DM. Furthermore, FGF-21 levels were linked to a rise in cardiovascular risk factors. It may shed light on the etiopathogenesis of glucometabolic diseases.