BACKGROUND The relationship between betatrophin/ANGPTL8 and obesity has been investigated using body mass index (BMI); however, since BMI reflects overall adiposity rather than body fat distribution, it remains unclear whether fat deposition in different areas of the body affects betatrophin expression. Here, we investigated the correlation between circulating betatrophin levels and body fat distribution in patients with different glucose tolerance. METHODS We performed a cross-sectional study in 128 participants with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT; n = 64) or normal glucose tolerance (NGT; n = 64). Circulating betatrophin levels were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Body fat distribution (subcutaneous, visceral, and limb fat) was measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and a body fat meter. RESULTS After controlling for age, sex, and BMI, betatrophin was correlated positively with visceral adipose tissue-to-subcutaneous adipose tissue ratio (VAT/SAT ratio; r = 0.339, p = 0.009) and negatively with body fat ratio (BFR; r = - 0.275, p = 0.035), left lower limb fat ratio (LLR; r = - 0.330, p = 0.011), and right lower limb fat ratio (RLR; r = - 0.288, p = 0.027) in the NGT group, with these correlations remaining after controlling for triglycerides. VAT/SAT ratio (standardized β = 0.419, p = 0.001) was independently associated with serum betatrophin levels; however, betatrophin was not associated with body fat distribution variables in the IGT group. CONCLUSIONS Circulating betatrophin levels correlated positively with VAT/SAT ratio and negatively with lower limb fat, but not with subcutaneous or upper limb fat, in individuals with normal glucose tolerance. Thus, betatrophin may be a potential biomarker for body fat distribution in individuals without glucose disorders.

中文翻译：

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在糖耐量正常的个体中，循环β-促肾上腺皮质激素/ANGPTL8水平与身体脂肪分布相关，但与葡萄糖紊乱的个体无关。

背景 已使用体重指数 (BMI) 研究了 betatropin/ANGPTL8 与肥胖之间的关系；然而，由于 BMI 反映的是整体肥胖程度而不是身体脂肪分布，因此目前尚不清楚身体不同部位的脂肪沉积是否会影响 betatropin 的表达。在这里，我们研究了不同糖耐量患者的循环β-促肾上腺皮质激素水平与体脂肪分布之间的相关性。方法 我们对 128 名糖耐量受损 (IGT; n = 64) 或糖耐量正常 (NGT; n = 64) 的参与者进行了一项横断面研究。通过酶联免疫吸附测定（ELISA）检测循环β-肌营养不良蛋白水平。通过磁共振成像 (MRI) 和体脂计测量体脂分布（皮下、内脏和四肢脂肪）。结果 控制年龄、性别和 BMI 后，β-促肾上腺皮质激素与内脏脂肪组织与皮下脂肪组织比率（VAT/SAT 比率；r = 0.339，p = 0.009）呈正相关，与体脂比率（BFR；r）呈负相关。 NGT 组中，左下肢脂肪比（LLR；r = - 0.330，p = 0.011）和右下肢脂肪比（RLR；r = - 0.288，p = 0.027），= - 0.275，p = 0.035），在控制甘油三酯后，这些相关性仍然存在。VAT/SAT 比率（标准化 β = 0.419，p = 0.001）与血清 Betatropin 水平独立相关；然而，在 IGT 组中，β-促肾上腺皮质激素与体脂肪分布变量无关。结论 在糖耐量正常的个体中，循环β-肌营养不良蛋白水平与 VAT/SAT 比率呈正相关，与下肢脂肪呈负相关，但与皮下或上肢脂肪无关。因此，β-肌营养不良蛋白可能是无葡萄糖紊乱个体体内脂肪分布的潜在生物标志物。