Treatment with atorvastatin reduces serum adipocyte-fatty acid binding protein value in patients with hyperlipidaemia

Serum adipocyte-fatty acid binding protein discriminates patients with permanent and temporary body weight loss

Adipocyte-fatty acid binding protein (A-FABP) is a biomarker of adiposity and metabolic syndrome. The aim of our work was to investigate the effect of weight reduction on serum A-FABP value. In the study, we analyzed a group of 189 probands suffering from obesity (102 women and 87 men; aged 57.3+/-12 years) initially, after a 3-month low-fat diet and once again 3 months after the termination of the diet for serum A-FABP, insulin, glucose, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and triglycerides. Basal biomarker concentrations were typical of the metabolic syndrome, and moreover A-FABP correlated with Quicki and BMI. We observed a reduction in BMI in 145 subjects who were divided into two subgroups: A-with persistent BMI reduction even after 6 months, B-with BMI reduction after 3 months and its regress after 6 months. Individuals with rise or no BMI difference were signed as subgroup C. In subgroup A, A-FABP level increased and returned to the earlier level (42.3 vs 68.3 vs 37.1 microg/l) and correlated with the markers of the metabolic syndrome. In subgroup B, A-FABP level increased less significantly, however elevated A-FABP level persisted for 6 months (41.9 vs 53.6 vs 50.7 microg/l). Subgroup C (n=54) showed no difference in A-FABP after 3-month diet and after next 3 months. The A-FABP value correlated with the some components of the metabolic syndrome. In conclusion, we describe that serum A-FABP might be a prognostic marker of body weight loss suggesting a preventive therapeutic intervention.

Adipose tissue and the metabolic syndrome: focusing on adiponectin and several novel adipokines

The metabolic syndrome represents a cluster of metabolic risk factors that predispose an individual to an increased risk for Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and their associated morbidity and mortality. Visceral obesity is thought to be a major culprit. Adipokines secreted from the adipose tissue are now believed to be key factors mediating the metabolic and inflammatory effects of obesity. In this review, we shall examine the evidence suggesting that several novel adipokines, adiponectin, adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein, retinol-binding protein-4 and lipocalin-2, may hold promise as important clinical biomarkers to identify individuals at risk for the metabolic syndrome and related comorbidities.

The fatty acid binding protein-4 (FABP4) is a strong biomarker of metabolic syndrome and lipodystrophy in HIV-infected patients

BACKGROUND

The incidence of metabolic abnormalities in HIV-infected patients is increasing. Fatty acid binding protein-4 (FABP4) is an emerging biomarker for metabolic-related disturbances. We aimed to study FABP4 as a marker of metabolic syndrome (MS) or lipodystrophy (LD) in HIV patients.

METHODS

FABP4 plasma concentrations were measured by enzyme-linked immunoassays in 183 HIV-infected patients, enrolled as part of a study aimed at identifying predictors of atherosclerosis. The presence of MS or LD was diagnosed according to standard clinical methods. Univariate and multivariate statistical analyses were performed.

RESULTS

FABP4 concentration was significantly higher in those patients with either MS or LD criteria than those without any metabolic disturbance. Similarly, FABP4 concentration significantly increased with an increasing of MS features and was strongly correlated with body-mass index, triglycerides, HDL-cholesterol concentrations, insulin and blood pressure. Patients in the highest quartile of FABP4 presented a six-fold increased odds ratio for MS and a three-fold increased odds for LD, adjusted by age, sex, body-mass index and the antiretroviral therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

FABP4 is a strong plasma marker of metabolic disturbances in HIV-infected patients, and therefore, could serve to guide therapeutic intervention in this group of patients.