Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 23, 2026
Precise Visualization of Insulin Receptors A and B in Murine Brain with an RNA In Situ Hybridization Assay
Published on: July 15, 2025
Irisin is a biomarker for metabolic syndrome in prepubertal children
Young Suk Shim1, Min Jae Kang1, Seung Yang1
1Department of Pediatrics, Hallym University Medical Center, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul Korea.
Insights
Lower irisin levels are linked to metabolic syndrome (MetS) in Korean children. Irisin may serve as a biomarker for MetS, with a specific cutoff identified for overweight/obese children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Metabolic Health
- Biomarker Discovery
Background:
- Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a growing concern in prepubertal children.
- Irisin, a myokine, has potential roles in metabolic regulation.
- Understanding irisin's association with MetS in pediatric populations is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between irisin levels and obesity in Korean prepubertal children.
- To determine if irisin is associated with metabolic syndrome (MetS) in this age group.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study involving 96 Korean children aged 6-10 years.
- Categorization into normal weight, overweight, and obese groups.
- Analysis of irisin concentrations in relation to anthropometric measurements, glucose, and triglycerides, with subgroup analysis for MetS status.
Main Results:
- Obese children showed lower mean irisin concentrations than normal-weight children.
- Irisin inversely correlated with body mass index (BMI) SDS, waist circumference SDS, and glucose.
- Children with MetS had significantly lower irisin levels compared to those without MetS, even after adjustment.
Conclusions:
- Decreased irisin levels are associated with MetS in prepubertal children.
- Irisin may function as a potential biomarker for identifying MetS in this population.
- A cutoff irisin level of 15.43 ng/mL demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity for distinguishing MetS in overweight/obese children.
Abstract:
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the association of irisin with obesity and metabolic syndrome (MetS) in Korean prepubertal children. A total of 96 children and adolescents aged 6 to 10 years (56 males) were included in this study. Subjects were divided into 3 groups: normal weight (n = 54), overweight (n = 16), and obese (n = 26). In the subgroup analyses, overweight/obese children were further divided based on their MetS status (with MetS vs. without MetS). Children with obesity tended to exhibit a lower mean irisin concentration compared to those with normal weight (p = 0.028). Using Pearson's correlation coefficient to compare all the children in the study, there was a significant inverse correlation between irisin and body mass index (BMI) standard deviation scores (SDS) (r = -0.210, p = 0.041), waist circumference SDS (r = -0.203, p = 0.049), and glucose (r = -0.296, p = 0.004). In the subgroup analyses of overweight/obese children, irisin exhibited a significant inverse correlation with glucose (r = -0.507, p = 0.001) and triglycerides (r = -0.331, p = 0.033). Children with MetS exhibited lower irisin concentrations than those without MetS (14.70 ng/mL vs. 22.02 ng/mL, p = 0.001), and these associations were significant after adjusting for age, gender, and BMI SDS (14.51 ng/mL vs. 22.06 ng/mL, p = 0.002). The irisin level of 15.43 ng/mL was determined to be a possible cutoff to distinguish children with metabolic syndrome from overweight/obese children, with a sensitivity of 75% and a specificity of 94% (p < 0.001). Our results suggest that decreased irisin levels may be associated with MetS in prepubertal children and that irisin might be a biomarker for MetS in prepubertal children.
