Clinical Implications Of Plasma Adipocyte Fatty Acid Binding Protein Levels In Patients With Obesity And Type2Diabetes

Objective:To explore the relationship between plasma A-FABP and obesity type and degree, glucose and lipid metabolism parameters and insulin sensitivity.Methods:Plasma adipocyte fatty acid binding protein (A-FABP) was detected by double antibody sandwich ELISA in fasting status in subjects with normal glucose regulation and normal weight (n=46), abdominal obese subjects with normal glucose regulation (n=34), newly-diagnosed type2diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and its subgroups of T2DM with normal weight (n=63) and T2DM with abdominal obesity (n=70), and glucose, lipids, insulin levels as well as anthropometrical parameters such as body mass index (BMI), fat content (Fat%), waist circumference (WC) and waist hip ratio (WHR) were measured. Meanwhile insulin sensitivity was assessed by (homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance index) HOMA-IR.Results:1. After age and sex adjustment, plasma A-FABP levels in OB-NGR, NW-T2DM, and OB-T2DM were significantly higher than that of NW-NGR[12.89(5.86-17.34)μg/L,12.60(8.90-15.10μg/L,19.05(13.45-26.73)μg/L vs.8.71(4.40-12.42)μg/L, P all<0.05]. There was no difference in plasma A-FABP levels between OB-NGR and NW-T2DM, but the plasma A-FABP levels in OB-NGR and NW-T2DM were significantly lower than that of OB-T2DM(P<0.01).2. In the linear correlation analysis, adjusting for age and sex, plasma A-FABP were positively correlated with BMI, WC, Fat%, WHR, TG, TC, FINS and HOMA-IR (r=0.354,0.422,0.354,0.332,0.198,0.183,0.306,0.307, respectively P<0.01); and also positively correlated with LDL-C and FPG(r=0.116,0.124, P<0.05), plasma A-FABP was negatively correlated with HDL-C (r=-0.114, P＜0.05).In a multiple stepwise regression analysis,Conclusion:1.Plasma A-FABP is not only strongly related to abdominal obesity and insulin resistance, but also associated with blood glucose and lipids. Plasma A-FABP levels may be used as metabolic markers of insulin resistance and obesity, especially abdominal obesity.2. HOMA-IR, sex, WC and age were most significant independent determinants for plasma A-FABP concentration.