title: Epicardial fat, body mass index, and triglyceride are independent contributors of serum fibroblast growth factor 21 level in obese premenopausal women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The hormone fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF-21) regulates carbohydrate and lipid homeostasis. FGF-21 represents an attractive novel therapy for obesity since administration of FGF-21 has been shown to improve metabolic abnormalities in obese animal models. We investigated FGF-21 and its relationship with epicardial fat thickness (EFT), metabolic parameters, and inflammatory markers in premenopausal obese women compared to controls with similar Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation (SCORE) project risk profiles.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-five obese premenopausal women with body mass index (BMI) ≥30 kg/m(2) and 41 control premenopausal women with BMI <25 kg/m(2) with similar SCORE project risk profiles were included in this case-control study. EFT was evaluated by two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography. Serum FGF-21 was measured with an ELISA kit.
  
  
  RESULTS
  FGF-21 and EFT were significantly higher in obese women compared to controls (p < 0.001). Multiple stepwise linear regression analysis showed that EFT, BMI, and triglycerides (TG) independently contributed to FGF-21 (R(2) = 0.757, p < 0.001). However, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), visceral ectopic fat, and inflammatory markers were not found as a direct contributor to serum FGF-21 level (p > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EFT, BMI, and TG may play an important role in predicting serum FGF-21 level which may be a potential therapeutic target in cardiometabolic disorders in the future.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Izmir Katip Celebi University Ataturk Training and Research Hospital, Basin Sitesi, 35360, Izmir, Turkey. ziakyildiz@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Z I
authors.initials: ZI
authors.lastname: Akyildiz
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Izmir Bozyaka Education and Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Polat
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Ege University Faculty of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Yurekli
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Izmir Bozyaka Education and Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: G U
authors.initials: GU
authors.lastname: Kocabas
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Izmir Karsiyaka State Hospital, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tuluce
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Izmir Katip Celebi University Ataturk Training and Research Hospital, Basin Sitesi, 35360, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: S Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Tuluce
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Izmir Katip Celebi University Ataturk Training and Research Hospital, Basin Sitesi, 35360, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Kocabas
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Izmir Bozyaka Education and Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bozkaya
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Izmir Bozyaka Education and Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yuksel
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Izmir Katip Celebi University Ataturk Training and Research Hospital, Basin Sitesi, 35360, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nazli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology; D050152:Intra-Abdominal Fat / Q000378:metabolism*; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D010496:Pericardium; D017697:Premenopause; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D014280:Triglycerides; C414620:fibroblast growth factor 21; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors
keywords: Epicardial fat thickness; Fibroblast growth factor-21; Obesity; Premenopause