Irisin in the Glucose Continuum

Abstract

Aim: Irisin, a novel myokine has been involved in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and metabolic syndrome. The aim of the current study was to investigate this association by comparing individuals from the whole spectrum of carbohydrate disturbances.

Method: A total of 160 subjects participated in the study – 50 had normal glucose tolerance (NGT), 60 had prediabetes (PreDM), 50 had T2D. Subjects in the 3 groups were age, sex and BMI-matched. Standard OGTTs were performed for the distribution of patients in each group. Circulating serum irisin was measured by ELISA method.

Results: Mean age of the participants of the study was 48.8 (± 7.97) years. Circulating irisin levels were statistically different in the 3 study groups – highest in NGT – median 619 ng/ml (IQR=567), lower in PreDM – 314 ng/ml (IQR=577) and lowest in T2D – 228 ng/ml (IQR=200). In males, irisin correlated positively with BMI (r=0.475, p<0.001), negatively with fasting glucose (r=− 0.547, p<0.001) and negatively with hepatic enzymes: ALT (r=− 0.281, p<0.05), AST (r=− 0.153, p>0.05), GGT (r=− 0.293, p<0.05). Similar correlations were observed in females. ROC analyses established irisin suitable for distinguishing T2D subjects from those without the condition (AUC=0.779, p<0.001) and insulin resistance (AUC=0.679, p=0.009), but not for MetS or dyslipidaemia. In a binary logistic regression model, after adjustment for confounders, irisin of ≤658 ng/ml had an OR of 7.125 for T2D in females.

Conclusion: Circulating irisin levels progressively decreased with the worsening of the glucose tolerance. Irisin correlated well with traditional biochemical and anthropometric parameters of metabolic health.

Key words

irisin - prediabetes - obesity - type-2 diabetes - metabolic syndrome

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