The association of plasma asprosin with anthropometric and metabolic parameters in Korean children and adolescents.

Background: This study aimed to determine the correlation of plasma asprosin with anthropometric and metabolic parameters in Korean children and adolescents.

Methods: This single-center study included 109 Korean children and adolescents: 62 (56.9%) obese participants with a body mass index (BMI) ≥95th percentile and 47 (43.1%) healthy controls with BMI between the 15th and 85th percentile. Metabolic parameters were measured, including fasting blood glucose, fasting insulin, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), triglyceride and glucose (TyG) index, and lipid profiles.

Results: Plasma asprosin levels were higher in the obese group than in the control group (mean 87.0 vs. 69.3 ng/mL; = 0.001) and in the IR group than in the non-IR group (mean 98.6 vs. 70.2 ng/mL; < 0.001). Plasma asprosin levels were not associated with sex or pubertal stage. Plasma asprosin levels were positively correlated with BMI SDS ( = 0.34; = 0.002), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) ( = 0.25; = 0.02), glucose ( = 0.33; = 0.002), insulin ( = 0.44; < 0.001), HOMA-IR ( = 0.47; < 0.001), triglyceride (TG) ( = 0.33; = 0.003), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol ( = -0.29; = 0.008), and TyG index ( = 0.38; < 0.001). Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that plasma asprosin levels were independently associated with HOMA-IR ( < 0.001) and TG/HDL cholesterol ratio ( < 0.001).

Conclusions: This study demonstrated an association between plasma asprosin levels and obesity and insulin resistance in Korean children and adolescents.