Temporal Profile of Plasma Asprosin Levels After Traumatic Diaphyseal Fractures of the Femur And Tibia: A Prospective...

Asprosin is a fasting-induced adipokine involved in metabolic and inflammatory regulation. Its behavior following acute orthopedic trauma is not well understood. Assessing its temporal changes after long-bone fractures may help clarify early physiological responses to injury.

The purpose of our study is to determine the serum asprosin levels after femoral and tibial diaphyseal fractures, and to compare these levels with those of healthy subjects.

This prospective randomized clinical study included a total of 89 participants, comprising 41 patients with isolated femoral (n = 19) or tibial (n = 24) shaft fractures and 48 healthy controls. Fasting serum asprosin levels were measured at day 1, day 3, day 7, 1 month, and 3 months post-injury. Controls provided two fasting samples 2 weeks apart, and the mean values were analyzed. Serum asprosin concentrations were measured using a sandwich-type ELISA (detection range 1.88-120 ng/mL). Statistical analysis used independent samples t test and Chi-square tests, with significance set at p < 0.05.

Asprosin levels were significantly higher in the fracture group than in controls at day 1 (40.26 vs. 20.68 ng/mL, p < 0.001) and peaked on day 3 (68.21 ng/mL, p < 0.001). Levels declined by day 7 and 1 month but remained elevated (p < 0.001). At 3 months, asprosin values approximated control levels (p = 0.294). Femoral and tibial fractures showed similar trends, except for a small difference at the 3-month follow-up (p = 0.045).

Asprosin levels rise sharply after long-bone fractures, peak early, and gradually return to baseline by 3 months, suggesting potential value as a biomarker of early fracture response.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s43465-026-01736-y.