Circulating levels of asprosin in children with obesity: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Yuwei Zhang, Yifei Zhang, Bao Yang, Simin Li, Ru Jia

Journal: BMC endocrine disorders 2024;24(1):36

PMID: 38475734

Free Full Text on BioMed Central View on PubMed

Plain Language Summary

Children with obesity are more likely to develop adult obesity, increasing their risk of cardiometabolic complications and mental health disorders. Beyond storing energy, adipose tissue functions as an endocrine organ, releasing metabolically active molecules. Among them, adipokines play a key role in inflammation, with obesity disrupting the balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory signals. The main aim of this study was to systematically compare fasting circulating asprosin [novel adipokine] levels between obese and non-obese children. This research was a systematic review and meta-analysis of six high-quality observational studies. Results showed no statistically significant difference in the circulating level of asprosin in children with obesity or without obesity. However, a positive association was between asprosin levels and total cholesterol was found. Authors concluded that asprosin might be a prospective bio-index and targeted treatment of total cholesterol metabolism

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Prior studies reported that elevated asprosin level was associated with obesity in adults and animal models. However, the relationship between asprosin level and children with obeisty remains controversial. The aim of our analysis was to systematically review available literatures linking asprosin and children with obesity for a comprehensive understanding of the relationship between circulating asprosin level and obesity in children.

METHODS

Eight databases were gleaned for studies published up to January 2024. Standard mean difference with 95% confidence interval (CI) and Fisher's Z transformation was calculated to evaluate the relationship between asprosin level and children with obesity using the Review Manager 5.4 Software. Other indicators were measured via mean difference with 95% CI.

RESULTS

Six observational studies were included both in systematic review and meta-analysis. The current evidence indicated that no significant difference was observed in the level of circulating asprosin between the children with and without obesity (SMD = 0.37; 95% CI:-0.22-0.95, p = 0.22). However, Fisher's Z transformation suggested the positive association of circulating asprosin levels and clinical index measuring the degree of obesity: total cholesterol (Fisher's Z: 0.11, 95% CI: 0.02-0.20, p = 0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

Circulating asprosin level was not independently related to childhood obesity currently. More rigorous longitudinal researches were required to disentangle the causations. However, the positive association of asprosin levels and total cholesterol indicated that asprosin might get involved in the lipid-metabolism of childhood obesity, asprosin might be a prospective bio-index and targeted treatment of total cholesterol metabolism besides the role of glucogenic and orexigenic.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Prospero ID: CRD42023426476.

Address: Key Laboratory of Shaanxi Province for Craniofacial Precision Medicine Research, College of Stomatology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, 710004, China.; Clinical Research Center of Shaanxi Province for Dental and Maxillofacial Diseases, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, 710004, China.; Department of Prosthodontics, College of Stomatology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, 710004, China.; Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, 710000, China.; Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, 710000, China.; Key Laboratory of Shaanxi Province for Craniofacial Precision Medicine Research, College of Stomatology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, 710004, China. [email protected].; Clinical Research Center of Shaanxi Province for Dental and Maxillofacial Diseases, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, 710004, China. [email protected].; Department of Digital Oral Implantology and Prosthodontics, College of Stomatology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, 710004, China. [email protected].

DOI: 10.1186/s12902-024-01565-w