Association Between the Serum Level of Asprosin and Metabolic Parameters in Adult Growth Hormone Deficiency: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Abstract

Objective: Adult growth hormone deficiency (AGHD) is characterized by central adiposity and metabolic disorders. Asprosin, a newly discovered adipokine, plays a crucial role in connecting adipose tissue function with the development of metabolic syndrome. This study aims to evaluate the circulating levels of asprosin in AGHD patients and explore the potential correlation between asprosin levels and various metabolic parameters. Subjects and Methods: Forty male patients with AGHD (mean age: 33.5 ± 9.5 yrs and mean BMI: 25.0 ± 4.5 kg/m²) and forty age-, gender-, and BMI-matched non-AGHD controls were enrolled. Medical history, anthropometric parameters (weight, height, waist circumference), and biochemical and hormonal investigations were collected from the electronic medical record system. Fat mass, fat percentage, and fat-free mass (FFM) were evaluated by bioelectrical impedance. Serum levels of asprosin were measured by ELISA. Results: Patients with AGHD demonstrated notably increased waist-to-hip ratios, triglyceride levels, and decreased HDL-cholesterol levels compared with the control group. In additionally, AGHD patients exhibited significantly higher serum levels of asprosin compared with controls (p=0.039). A notable association was observed between serum asprosin levels and FFM, triglycerides, and HDL-cholesterol levels in the whole population. Conclusions: Our study highlights distinct metabolic alterations in AGHD patients when matched for BMI with controls and investigates variations in serum asprosin levels for the first time. These findings have significant implications for identifying potential biomarkers for metabolic syndrome risk in AGHD patients and informing future treatment approaches.