Sex-dependent association between circulating irisin levels and insulin resistance in healthy adults

F. Jameel, R. N. Thota, L. G. Wood, B. Plunkett, M. L. Garg

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

14 Citations (Scopus)
25 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Background: Irisin, a myokine, expressed by muscle and adipose tissue, has been reported to stimulate conversion of white into brown adipose tissue. The beneficial health effects of exercise are thought to be mediated in part, via increased production of irisin. Objective: The primary aim of this study was to assess the association between plasma irisin levels glycaemic indices in healthy adults. Associations between irisin and lipid levels, CRP and body composition were explored as secondary outcomes. Methods: A cross-sectional sample of forty nine (n = 49) free living healthy males (n = 28) and females (n = 21), between the ages of 18 and 65, with body mass index (BMI) within the healthy range, were recruited. Body weight, height, and body composition measurements were taken. Fasting blood samples were collected for the analysis of glucose, insulin and irisin levels. Insulin resistance score, HOMA-IR, was calculated using fasting blood glucose and insulin values. The relationship between plasma irisin levels and anthropometric measurements, glucose, insulin and HOMA-IR was determined using Spearman's bivariate correlation test. Results: A significant inverse relationship was found between plasma irisin levels and insulin(r = −0.380; P = 0.007) and HOMA-IR(r = −0.362; P = 0.011). This relation was further strengthened in males when the data was stratified by gender. Circulating irisin levels were positively correlated with HDL-C (r = 0.39; P = 0.05) in male participants. Additionally, there was a significant negative correlation between percent body fat (r = −0.43, P < 0.05) and body fat mass (r = −0.47, P < 0.05) and circulating irisin levels in male participants. Conclusions: This study reports a sex-dependent inverse relationship between plasma irisin levels and insulin resistance in healthy subjects.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)86-92
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of Nutrition and Intermediary Metabolism
Volume2
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2015
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Copyright the Author(s) 2015. Version archived for private and non-commercial use with the permission of the author/s and according to publisher conditions. For further rights please contact the publisher.

Keywords

  • HOMA-IR
  • Insulin resistance
  • Irisin
  • Gender

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