Circulating Gremlin-1 Reflects Age-Associated Metabolic Changes in Women

Menopause is accompanied by hormonal alterations that are closely linked to changes in body composition, insulin sensitivity, and cardiovascular risk in women. Gremlin-1 has recently been identified as an adipokine involved in metabolic and reproductive aging; however, its associations with endocrine and lipid biomarkers across the menopausal transition remain incompletely defined.

To evaluate the relationships between plasma Gremlin-1 and IGF-1, HDL cholesterol, estradiol, and age in reproductive-aged and postmenopausal women.

This cross-sectional study included 88 women aged 18-65 years, stratified by menopausal status (reproductive-aged vs. postmenopausal). Plasma concentrations of Gremlin-1, growth hormone, IGF-1, insulin, estradiol (E2), glucose, HbA1c, and a standard lipid profile were measured.

Plasma Gremlin-1 concentrations were significantly higher in postmenopausal women compared with reproductive-aged women (p < 0.001). Age (p = 0.013), but not menopause status (p = 0.874), was associated with Gremlin-1 levels. Gremlin-1 showed a strong inverse association with IGF-1 (p = 0.003) and a negative correlation with HDL cholesterol (p = 0.03) in non-obese women; however this association disappeared after adjustment for age.

Circulating Gremlin-1 primarily reflects chronological aging and associated endocrine-metabolic changes rather than menopausal status or adiposity per se. While unadjusted associations with metabolic biomarkers are detectable, these relationships are largely attributable to aging. Gremlin-1 may therefore serve as a marker of systemic aging-related endocrine-metabolic remodeling rather than a specific indicator of ovarian aging or adipose tissue dysfunction.