Serum level of fibroblast growth factor 21 in type 2 diabetic patients with and without metabolic syndrome

Abstract

Effect of FGF21 on metabolic syndrome patients is not exactly clear. In the present study, we assessed serum level of fibroblast growth factor 21 in type 2 diabetic patients with and without metabolic syndrome in Gorgan. The study groups consisted of 120 patients with type 2 diabetes and 60 healthy subjects. Diabetic patients divided into two groups. All subjects were matched according to age and sex. The mean waist circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, triglyceride and fasting blood glucose levels and body mass index were significantly higher in the subjects with metabolic syndrome than control group, but the mean HDL-cholesterol was significantly lower (p = 0.0001). Mean serum level of FGF21 was higher in type 2 diabetic subjects with and without metabolic syndrome than that of control subject (p = 0.0001). There were significant negative correlation between FGF21 and BMI, diastolic blood pressure and HDL-cholesterol in subjects with metabolic syndrome (p<0.05). There were also significant negative correlation between FGF21 and cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol in control group (p<0.05). The findings of this study suggest that serum FGF21 are higher in patients with type 2 diabetes with and without metabolic syndrome than in age and sex matched control group. Our study shows that some of metabolic syndrome components (especially HDL-cholesterol) are associated with high serum FGF21 levels. Because of different effects of FGF21 in rodents, primates and in humans, it may require more investigating on metabolic effects of FGF21 in human's samples.