Association of lower circulating Spexin levels with higher body mass indices and glucose metabolic profiles in adult subjects in Egypt

Abstract

Spexin (SPX) is a novel peptide hormone that lowers blood glucose levels and is protective against hepatic steatosis in diet induced obese mouse models. We hypothesized that higher circulating SPX levels would be associated with a lean BMI and a more favorable metabolic profile in humans. We aimed to investigate SPX levels and its association with obesity, glucose metabolic and cardiovascular factors in lean individuals compared to physical activity matched obese individuals. This cross-sectional study was performed with the participation of 135 individuals with various BMIs. Anthropometric and fasting metabolic parameters were determined in all participants and serum SPX levels were measured using ELISA. The levels of serum SPX were significantly lower in obese individuals than in those with overweight or normal-weight (P < 0.001). Additionally, SPX levels in the subgroup with diabetes was lower than those with normal glycemia (P < 0.001) . On spearman correlation analysis, SPX levels were negatively associated with adiposity markers,FBS,IR,and unfavorable lipid profile, and positively associated with HDL-c(p < 0.001). On multiple stepwise linear regression analysis, the only covariates independently associated with SPX were IR and BMI. Additionally, in fully adjusted model, the odds ratio of T2DM with serum concentrations of SPX was approximately 0.912(95%CI 0.085–9.781, P < 0.001) compared to those with normal glycemia. SPX is a beneficial novel hormone whose circulating levels is significantly lower in obese subjects, and associated with unfavorable metabolic profiles. These data can suggestive of a potential role of SPX as a useful biomarker of the metabolic health status of one individual. • Spexin, a beneficial novel hormone, has potential implications in obesity and its related disorders. • Spexin levels are significantly lower in obese subjects and associated with unfavorable metabolic profiles. • Optimizing spexin levels may improve obesity and its related metabolic disorders.