Serum Fibroblast Growth Factor 1 is Associated with the Decreased Risk of Obesity in Human

Background As a transducer of PPAR. signaling, recent evidence supports that fibroblast growth factor 1 (FGF1) mediates adipose tissue remodeling and insulin sensitivity. Aims This study is to assess the role of serum FGF1 in obesity. Methods A hospital-based case-control study of 154 subjects was conducted. Serum level of FGF1 was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results The serum level of FGF1 in the lean (119.0 [103.1-146.1] pg/ml) was higher than it in the subjects with overweight/obesity (111.9 [80.3-127.4] pg/ml, P = 0.009). Binary logistic regression models found a reverse association between serum FGF1 level and the risk of overweight/obesity (adjusted odds ratio = 0.990, 95 % confidence interval [0.981-0.998], P = 0.019). Furthermore, serum FGF1 reversely correlated with body mass index (r = -0.176, P = 0.029), systolic blood pressure (r = -0.224, P = 0.005), diastolic blood pressure (r = -0.185, P = 0.022) and triglycerides (r = -0.162, P = 0.044). Multiple stepwise linear regression analysis found serum level of FGF1 was dependent on anti-diabetic drugs, hemoglobin A1C, body mass index and sex. Conclusions Serum level of FGF1 is associated with the decreased risk of obesity in human.