%0 Journal Article
%T Follistatin as a Potential Biomarker for Identifying Metabolically Healthy and Unhealthy Obesity: A Cross-Sectional Study.
%A Erbakan AN
%A Mutlu HH
%A Uzunlulu M
%A Caştur L
%A Akbaş MM
%A Kaya FN
%A Erbakan M
%A İşman FK
%A Oğuz A
%J J Pers Med
%V 14
%N 5
%D 2024 May 3
%M 38793069
%F 3.508
%R 10.3390/jpm14050487
%X Metabolically healthy obesity (MHO) refers to obese individuals with a favorable metabolic profile, without severe metabolic abnormalities. This study aimed to investigate the potential of follistatin, a regulator of metabolic balance, as a biomarker to distinguish between metabolically healthy and unhealthy obesity. This cross-sectional study included 30 metabolically healthy and 32 metabolically unhealthy individuals with obesity. Blood samples were collected to measure the follistatin levels using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). While follistatin did not significantly differentiate between metabolically healthy (median 41.84 [IQR, 37.68 to 80.09]) and unhealthy (median 42.44 [IQR, 39.54 to 82.55]) individuals with obesity (p = 0.642), other biochemical markers, such as HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, C-peptide, and AST, showed significant differences between the two groups. Insulin was the most significant predictor of follistatin levels, with a coefficient of 0.903, followed by C-peptide, which exerted a negative influence at -0.624. Quantile regression analysis revealed nuanced associations between the follistatin levels and metabolic parameters in different quantiles. Although follistatin may not serve as a biomarker for identifying MHO and metabolically unhealthy obesity, understanding the underlying mechanisms that contribute to metabolic dysfunction could provide personalized strategies for managing obesity and preventing associated complications.