title: Effect of Metformin on Fibroblast Growth Factor-21 Levels in Patients with Newly Diagnosed Type 2 Diabetes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-21 is an important regulator of glucose metabolism. In the present study, we investigated whether plasma levels of FGF-21 changed in patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and assessed the effects of metformin treatment on plasma FGF-21 levels.
  
  
  METHODS
  The plasma FGF-21 levels and the metabolic parameters of 226 patients with newly diagnosed T2DM and 100 sex- and age-matched normal glycemic tolerant (NGT) controls were measured. Seventy-four patients among of the 226 patients with T2DM were treated with metformin throughout the 12-week study period. The fasting plasma FGF-21 and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patients with T2DM had significantly higher fasting plasma FGF-21 levels (302.2 pg/mL [range, 201.3-454.4 pg/mL] vs. 104.5 pg/mL [range, 71.6-185.6 pg/mL]; P < 0.00) and hs-CRP levels (2.63 ± 2.81 mg/L vs. 1.58 ± 2.16 mg/L; P < 0.00) than the NGT subjects. The fasting plasma hs-CRP and FGF-21 levels were significantly decreased in the T2DM group after metformin treatment compared with pretreatment (respectively, 2.56 ± 1.75 mg/L vs. 3.28 ± 1.89 mg/L [P < 0.05] and 232.6 pg/mL [range, 154.3-307.8 pg/mL] vs. 313.9 pg/mL [range, 227.7-474.2 pg/mL] [P < 0.01]).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In patients with T2DM, the plasma FGF-21 levels are increased but are significantly decreased after metformin treatment. Metformin may play a role in reducing the FGF-21 levels in patients with T2DM, likely through the amelioration of glucose-lipid metabolism and inflammation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University , Beijing, People's Republic of China .
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University , Beijing, People's Republic of China .
authors.forename: XiaoMeng
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University , Beijing, People's Republic of China .
authors.forename: Heng
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University , Beijing, People's Republic of China .
authors.forename: Jia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University , Beijing, People's Republic of China .
authors.forename: PengRui
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University , Beijing, People's Republic of China .
authors.forename: Yuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University , Beijing, People's Republic of China .
authors.forename: QingRong
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University , Beijing, People's Republic of China .
authors.forename: Guang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002681:China; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008297:Male; D008687:Metformin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; C414620:fibroblast growth factor 21; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D008687:Metformin