The relationship between serum fatty-acid binding protein 4 level and lung function in Korean subjects with normal...

Area of Science:

• Pulmonary Medicine
• Biochemistry
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Serum fatty-acid binding protein 4 (FABP4) is implicated in various metabolic and inflammatory processes.
• The relationship between FABP4 and lung function in healthy populations remains underexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between serum FABP4 levels and lung function parameters in apparently healthy Korean adults.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 431 healthy Korean adults with normal ventilatory function.
• Lung function assessed via spirometry measuring Forced Expiratory Volume (FEV) 1 and Forced Vital Capacity (FVC).
• Serum FABP4 levels measured using ELISA and analyzed as Ln(FABP4).

Main Results:

• A significant inverse association was observed between Ln(FABP4) and Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) across quartiles (p=0.008).
• Higher FABP4 levels (3rd tertile) were associated with an increased odds ratio for being in the lowest quartile of FVC (OR=2.704).
• An association between higher FABP4 levels and lower FEV1 was noted after age/sex adjustment, but attenuated with full adjustment.

Conclusions:

• Elevated serum FABP4 levels are associated with an increased risk of reduced lung function, specifically lower FVC, in healthy adults.
• FABP4 may serve as a potential biomarker for early detection of subclinical lung function decline.