Serum visfatin levels in a group of Egyptian obese individuals.
Adipose tissue is an endocrine organ that secretes many adipokines. Visfatin is a relatively novel adipocytokine predominantly secreted from adipocytes and shows insulin mimetic properties. The aim of the study was to assess visfatin levels as well as its relation to selected anthropometric and biochemical parameters in adult obesity. The study included 46 adult obese subjects with body mass index of 52.9 +/- 9 kg/m2. In addition, the control group included 44 healthy individuals with matched age and sex and with BMI values of 23.1 +/- 1 kg/m2. Anthropometric measures included also the height, weight, waist and hip circumferences. Serum visfatin and fasting insulin were assessed using commercially available enzyme immunoassay kits. The insulin resistance index was estimated using the Homeostasis Model Assessment (HOMA). Other biochemical parameters assessed included fasting blood sugar, total serum cholesterol and triglycerides. Significant higher serum visfatin levels were found in obese subjects compared to controls (P<0.05). In addition, a statistically significant positive correlation was obtained between serum visfatin and each of BMI (P<0.05), waist circumference (P<0.001), hip circumference (P<0.001), as well as HOMA (P<0.05) in obese subjects unlike in control group. In conclusion, the observed visfatin increase in obesity together with its positive correlation to HOMA might be suggestive of a role in glucose homeostasis.
Immunology Unit, Clinical Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.
Randa
R
Reda
Abeer
A
Shehab
Dina
D
Soliman
Amira
A
Gabr
Alaa
A
Abbass
D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D004534:Egypt; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood*; D054409:Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase / Q000097:blood*; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000097:blood*; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D001786:Blood Glucose; D016207:Cytokines; D007328:Insulin; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol; D054409:Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase; C085455:nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase, human