Fibroblast growth factor-21 is a novel linkage between metabolic parameters, cardiovascular risk, and nephropathy in prediabetes

Introduction Fibroblast growth factor-21 (FGF21) regulates glucose and lipid metabolism and protects against atherosclerosis. Serum FGF21 levels were assessed in newly diagnosed, drug-naive patients with prediabetes (group 1, n=60) and diabetes mellitus type 2 (group 2, n=60), in addition to 40 healthy individuals (group 3, n=40). Results Serum FGF21 levels were significantly increased in groups 1 and 2 compared with group 3 (231.7±59.3 and 260.4±82.5 vs. 22.6±5.31 pg/dl, respectively; P<0.001 for both). Moreover, group 2 had statistically significantly higher FGF21 levels compared with group 1 (P=0.03). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis identified FGF21 cutoff value of greater than 204 and 30 pg/ml for the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus type 2 and prediabetes, with an area under the curve 0.72 and 1, sensitivity of 82.5 and 100%, and specificity of 60 and 100%, respectively. Using univariate analysis, FGF21 was positively correlated with blood pressure, obesity (BMI and waist–hip ratio), glycemic (glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin) and insulin resistance (fasting insulin and homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance) parameters, atherogenic lipid profile, liver enzymes, and cardiovascular disease risk score in group 1 and group 2. FGF21 correlated with albumin–creatinine ratio negatively in group 1 and positively in group 2. Independent predictors of FGF21 level were fasting glucose, insulin, and triglyceride in both patient groups. The independent predictors of FGF21 were obesity parameters in group 1 and albumin–creatinine ratio, age, and systolic blood pressure in group 2. Conclusion Among prediabetic patients, FGF21 is an excellent predictor and a novel linkage between metabolic parameters, circulatory system, and nephropathy.