Study Finds Elevated Asprosin Levels in New Diabetes Cases, Signaling Early Glucose Disruption

This investigation revealed that individuals with prediabetes and those newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) exhibit increased serum asprosin levels, indicating that elevated asprosin concentrations are linked to early disturbances in glucose homeostasis.

Hongcui Diao, Department of Endocrinology, Jinan Central Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, China, and colleagues aimed to clarify the relationship between serum asprosin levels and T2DM occurrence in light of mixed findings about the asprosin's role in T2DM and the lack of studies on its effects on prediabetic conditions.

In the observational analysis, the cohort comprised 252 adults aged 22–69 recruited from Jinan Central Hospital. They were categorized into three groups; normal glucose tolerance (NGT), impaired glucose regulation (IGR), and T2DM groups.

Serum asprosin levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In addition, all participants underwent assessments of various biochemical and anthropometric markers.

The following were the key findings of the study:

• Analysis revealed a notable rise in serum asprosin levels among individuals with newly diagnosed T2DM, with IGR subjects also demonstrating slightly elevated asprosin levels compared to the healthy group.
• Further stratification by quartiles of asprosin levels showed a progressive increase in the proportions of IGR + T2DM patients, highlighting a potential association between elevated asprosin and increased T2DM risk.
• The Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis for the efficacy of asprosin in identifying IGR + T2DM yielded an area under curve (AUC) of 0.853, pointing to a threshold value of 4.95 ng/ml for asprosin.

In the study, individuals recently diagnosed with diabetes showed heightened serum asprosin levels, while those identified as prediabetic exhibited moderately increased levels. This pattern indicates a potential connection between elevated asprosin levels and disruptions in glucose-handling mechanisms, observable from the early stages of diabetes onset.

As the global burden of diabetes continues to rise, with over 400 million people affected worldwide, research into novel biomarkers like asprosin offers hope for more effective management and prevention strategies. This study not only deepens the understanding of diabetes pathophysiology but also underscores the potential of personalized medicine in tackling this widespread health challenge.

Reference:

Diao, H., Fan, X., Li, Z., Hou, L., Dong, Z., & Pang, S. (2024). Circulating asprosin concentrations in individuals with new-onset type 2 diabetes and prediabetes. Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice, 213, 111730. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.diabres.2024.111730