Department of Pediatrics, National Research Center, Cairo, Egypt.
Arch Med Sci. 2012 Nov 9;8(5):826-33. doi: 10.5114/aoms.2012.31616. Epub 2012 Nov 7.
Fetuin-A is an important player in the enhancement of insulin resistance. There are very limited data available concerning the relationships between fetuin-A, weight status and features of the metabolic syndrome (Met S) in obese Egyptian subjects, and especially in children. The aim of the study was to evaluate fetuin-A serum level in subjects with obesity and its possible association with other laboratory and clinical variables.
A total of 140 obese subjects and 50 controls aged 10-40 years were recruited. Demographic, anthropometric and biochemical features were collected according to a standard protocol. Serum fetuin-A levels were measured using ELISA and the modified Third Report of the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP-ATP III) criteria were adopted to diagnose Met S.
A higher level of serum fetuin-A was detected in obese subjects. Met S cases were also significantly associated with higher serum fetuin-A. Fetuin-A correlated significantly with BMI (r = 0.437), systolic (r = 0.228) and diastolic blood pressure (r = 0.295), waist circumference (r = 0.332), insulin resistance calculated by the homeostasis model (HOMA-IR) (r = 0.295) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) (r = 0.362).
Fetuin-A levels were higher in adults and children with obesity and Met S. They were related to insulin resistance and to features of the Met S in cross-sectional analyses. Our study demonstrates a novel association between human fetuin-A and the Met S among obese subject. Therefore, fetuin-A might be a new promising link between obesity and its comorbidities.
胎球蛋白-A 是增强胰岛素抵抗的重要因素。在肥胖的埃及人群中，尤其是在儿童中，关于胎球蛋白-A、体重状况和代谢综合征（Met S）特征之间的关系，可用的数据非常有限。本研究旨在评估肥胖个体的血清胎球蛋白-A 水平及其与其他实验室和临床变量的可能相关性。
共招募了 140 名肥胖患者和 50 名年龄在 10-40 岁之间的对照组。根据标准方案收集了人口统计学、人体测量学和生化特征。采用酶联免疫吸附试验（ELISA）测定血清胎球蛋白-A 水平，采用改良的第三次国家胆固醇教育计划（NCEP-ATP III）标准诊断 Met S。
肥胖组的血清胎球蛋白-A 水平较高。Met S 病例的血清胎球蛋白-A 水平也显著升高。胎球蛋白-A 与 BMI（r = 0.437）、收缩压（r = 0.228）和舒张压（r = 0.295）、腰围（r = 0.332）、稳态模型评估的胰岛素抵抗（HOMA-IR）（r = 0.295）和高密度脂蛋白（HDL）（r = 0.362）呈显著相关。
肥胖和 Met S 患者的血清胎球蛋白-A 水平较高。在横断面分析中，它们与胰岛素抵抗和 Met S 的特征有关。我们的研究表明，人类胎球蛋白-A 与肥胖人群中的 Met S 之间存在新的关联。因此，胎球蛋白-A 可能是肥胖及其合并症之间的一个新的有希望的联系。
