Associations of fibroblast growth factor 21 with cardiovascular risk and β-cell function in patients who had no history of diabetes

Abstract

BackgroundWe investigated the associations of fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF-21) with cardiovascular risk and β-cell function in patients who had no history of diabetes. MethodsWe enrolled 269 outpatients who had been referred for an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Plasma glucose, insulin, and FGF-21 were measured before and at 2h after the OGTT. β-cell function was assessed using the insulinogenic index, corrected for insulin resistance. Patients' 10-year coronary heart disease (CHD) risk was assessed using the Chinese Multi-provincial Cohort Study functions. ResultsOverall, there was a 10% decrease in FGF-21 after OGTT (p<0.001). The decrease of FGF-21 after OGTT in patients with normal glucose tolerance, prediabetes, and diabetes was 8%, 10%, and 21%, respectively (all p<0.05). Patients with a history of admission for coronary angiography had a higher 10-year CHD risk and fasting FGF-21 (both p<0.001). In multivariate regression analysis, fasting FGF-21 was positively associated with 10-year CHD risk, while FGF-21 relative change 2h after OGTT was positively associated with β-cell function. ConclusionsIn patients who had no history of diabetes, fasting FGF-21 was positively associated with 10-year CHD risk, while FGF-21 relative change 2h after OGTT was positively associated with β-cell function.