Fibroblast growth factor-19 levels in type 2 diabetic patients with metabolic syndrome

This study aimed to examine fibroblast growth factor-19 (FGF-19) in type 2 diabetic (T2DM) patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS) and to evaluate the relationship between FGF-19 and other cardiovascular risk factors, such as atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) and hsCRP. 26 T2DM patients with MetS and 12 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. Serum FGF-19 levels were measured by sandwich ELISA, and compared with other cardiovascular risk factors; lipid profile, AIP, glucose, HbA1c, and hsCRP. AIP was calculated as log (TG/HDL-c). The median (1-3.quartile) FGF-19 levels in T2DM patients with MetS and healthy controls were 122.90 (108.63-237.60) pg/ml and 293.45 (153.64-370.31) pg/ml, respectively (P=0.003). Patients were also grouped by body mass index (BMI) <30 kg/m(2) (n=13) and ≥30 kg/m(2) (n=13) with median (1-3.quartile) FGF-19 values 168.70 (113.54-275.77) pg/mL and 115.89 (97.94-200.40) pg/mL, respectively (P=0.007). Significant negative correlations were found between FGF-19 and BMI, triglyceride, log (TG/HDL-c), hsCRP, and HbA1c (r=-0.526, P=0.001; r=-0.327, P=0.05; r=-0.312, P=0.05; r=-0.435, P=0.006; r=-0.357, P=0.028, respectively). We showed that FGF-19 levels are low in T2DM patients with MetS. The negative relationship between FGF-19 and several known cardiovascular risk factors such as TG, log (TG/HDL-c), hsCRP and HbA1c in diabetic patients with MetS suggests that FGF-19 can be used as a contributing marker.