부산대학교 도서관

Purpose: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/m2 and 41 control premenopausal women with BMI <25 kg/m2 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 (R2 = 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.