Chung HS, et al. - This study was performed to explore the relationship of meteorin-like (Metrnl) with diabetes and cardiometabolic risk variables in humans. The researchers found an elevated level of Metrnl in human subjects with type 2 diabetes. Metrnl level was inversely associated with various cardiometabolic risk factors, including renal function.

Methods

• The researchers measured Metrnl concentration with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 800 subjects (400 patients with type 2 diabetes and 400 non-diabetes).
• They evaluated the correlations of Metrnl level with anthropometric parameters, lifestyle factors, body composition values, and laboratory measurements.

Results

• In patients with diabetes, Metrnl concentration was significantly higher than in those without diabetes [median (inter-quartile range); diabetes: 1,219.9 (1,020.6, 1,535.6), non-diabetes: 1,131.2 (993.1, 1,313.6) pg/ml, P < 0.001].
• Metrnl level was significantly correlated with fasting plasma glucose, blood pressure, lipid profile, and eGFR, but not with BMI or percent body fat, after adjustment for age and sex.
• The researchers showed that Metrnl level was independently associated with diabetes status (P < 0.001), eGFR (P < 0.001), and total cholesterol (P=0.026) (R² = 0.127) in multiple stepwise regression analysis.
• In multiple logistic regression analysis, after adjustment for confounding factors, the odds ratio for the risk of diabetes was 3.53 (95% confidence interval = 2.04-6.10) in the highest tertile of Metrnl compared to the lowest.