title: Circulating fibroblast growth factor 21 levels are closely associated with hepatic fat content: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Fibroblasts growth factor 21 (FGF21), a liver-secreted endocrine factor involved in regulating glucose and lipid metabolism, has been shown to be elevated in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This study aimed to evaluate the quantitative correlation between serum FGF21 level and hepatic fat content.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 138 subjects (72 male and 66 female) aged from 18 to 65 years with abnormal glucose metabolism and B-ultrasonography diagnosed fatty liver were enrolled in the study. Serum FGF21 levels were determined by an in-house chemiluminescence immunoassay and hepatic fat contents were measured by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum FGF21 increased progressively with the increase of hepatic fat content, but when hepatic fat content increased to the fourth quartile, FGF21 tended to decline. Serum FGF21 concentrations were positively correlated with hepatic fat content especially in subjects with mild/moderate hepatic steatosis (r = 0.276, p = 0.009). Within the range of hepatic steatosis from the first to third quartile, FGF21 was superior to any other traditional clinical markers including ALT to reflect hepatic fat content. When the patients with severe hepatic steatosis (the fourth quartile) were included, the quantitative correlation between FGF21 and hepatic fat content was weakened.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum FGF21 was a potential biomarker to reflect the hepatic fat content in patients with mild or moderate NAFLD. In severe NAFLD patients, FGF21 concentration might decrease due to liver inflammation or injury.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Hongmei
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Mingfeng
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: Xinxia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Qiong
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bian
authors.forename: Mengsu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Shengxiang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.forename: Xiuzhong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.forename: Yinfang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tu
authors.forename: Weiping
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Gao
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012044:Regression Analysis; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C414620:fibroblast growth factor 21; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors