Increased Serum Adipsin Correlates with MAFLD and Metabolic Risk Abnormalities

Area of Science:

• Metabolic disease research
• Hepatology
• Endocrinology

Background:

• Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a new definition proposed in 2020.
• Adipsin, an adipokine, is linked to metabolic diseases.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between MAFLD, serum adipsin levels, and metabolic risk abnormalities.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study utilizing data from the Guangzhou Nutrition and Health Study (GNHS).
• Involved 908 patients with hepatic steatosis, collecting data via questionnaires, physical exams, and biochemical tests.

Main Results:

• 789 out of 908 patients were diagnosed with MAFLD.
• Serum adipsin levels were significantly higher in the MAFLD group (3543.00 ng/mL) compared to the non-MAFLD group (3095.33 ng/mL) (P < 0.001).
• Higher adipsin levels correlated with MAFLD (OR 3.46), and both adipsin levels and fatty liver severity increased with more metabolic risk abnormalities (p-trend < 0.001).

Conclusions:

• Elevated serum adipsin is associated with MAFLD.
• Adipsin levels and fatty liver severity escalate with an increasing number of metabolic risk abnormalities.