Abstract
BackgroundObestatin is a ghrelin-associated peptide, derived from preproghrelin. Although many of its effects are unclear, accumulating evidence supports positive actions on both metabolism and cardiovascular function. To date, level of obestatin and its correlations to the lipid subfractions in non-diabetic obese (NDO) patients have not been investigated.MethodsFifty NDO patients (BMI: 41.96 ± 8.6 kg/m2) and thirty-two normal-weight, age- and gender-matched healthy controls (BMI: 24.16 ± 3.3 kg/m2) were enrolled into our study. Obestatin level was measured by ELISA. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) subfractions, intermediate density lipoprotein (IDL) and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) levels and mean LDL size were detected by nongradient polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (Lipoprint).ResultsSerum level of obestatin was significantly lower in NDO patients compared to controls (3.01 ± 0.5 vs. 3.29 ± 0.6 μg/ml, p < 0.05). We found significant negative correlations between the level of obestatin and BMI (r = − 0.33; p < 0.001), level of serum glucose (r = − 0.27, p < 0.05), HbA1c (r = − 0.38; p < 0.001) and insulin (r = − 0.34; p < 0.05). Significant positive correlation was found between obestatin level and the levels of ApoA1 (r = 0.25; p < 0.05), large HDL subfraction ratio and level (r = 0.23; p < 0.05 and r = 0.24; p < 0.05), IDL (r = 0.25 p < 0.05) and mean LDL size (r = 0.25; p < 0.05). Serum VLDL ratio and level negatively correlated with obestatin (r = − 0.32; p < 0.01 and r = − 0.21; p = 0.05). In multiple regression analysis obestatin was predicted only by VLDL level.ConclusionsBased on our data, measurement of obestatin level in obesity may contribute to understand the interplay between gastrointestinal hormone secretion and metabolic alterations in obesity.
Highlights
Obestatin is a ghrelin-associated peptide, derived from preproghrelin
Anthropometric data and laboratory characteristics of study participants are summarized in Table 1 The non-diabetic obese (NDO) patients had extremely high BMI and slightly elevated high sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) level compared to lean individuals
Fasting glucose was in normal range in both groups and the blood glucose levels at 120 min of oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) were not elevated in the obese group
Summary
Obestatin is a ghrelin-associated peptide, derived from preproghrelin. Level of obestatin and its correlations to the lipid subfractions in non-diabetic obese (NDO) patients have not been investigated. A follow-up analysis from the Framingham study demonstrated high body mass index (BMI) as an independent risk factor for coronary artery disease (CAD), In the last few decades, it has been recognized that adipose tissue is a highly active metabolic and endocrine organ, and that secreted hormon-like proteins (adipokines) are important for metabolic homeostasis. Studies on the obestatin/ghrelin ratio in the gastrointestinal tract and plasma are associated with some diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome [9], obesity [10] and type 2 diabetes mellitus [11]. Fasting plasma concentration of obestatin, but not of ghrelin, was found to be reduced in insulin resistance and is positively associated with whole body insulin sensitivity in nondiabetic humans [13]. Obestatin may be a nutritional marker reflecting body adiposity and insulin resistance
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