Associations between asprosin, insulin resistance, and oxidative stress in adults with obesity.

Serum asprosin levels were significantly higher in overweight and obese groups compared to normal-weight controls.

• Study included 150 adults categorized into three BMI-based groups: control (CG; BMI < 25 kg/m²), overweight (O1; BMI > 25 kg/m²), and obese (O2; BMI > 30 kg/m²).
• ASP levels were significantly higher in O1 and O2 compared with CG (p < 0.001).
• ASP levels were also significantly higher in O2 compared with O1 (p < 0.01).
• This cross-sectional study used a standardized 4-hour oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) as part of the assessment protocol.

Asprosin positively correlated with multiple markers of insulin resistance.

• ASP positively correlated with HOMA-IR, TyG, and TyG-WHR (p < 0.05).
• ASP negatively correlated with QUICKI and Matsuda Index (p < 0.05).
• IR was assessed using five indices: HOMA-IR, QUICKI, Matsuda Index, TyG, and the composite TyG-WHR index as a proxy for hepatic IR.
• The preferential correlation with hepatic IR markers (TyG-WHR) suggests ASP may primarily reflect liver-specific rather than peripheral insulin resistance.

Asprosin positively correlated with markers of oxidative stress, liver function, and inflammation.

• ASP positively correlated with total oxidative capacity (TOC), ALT, and CRP (p < 0.05).
• Oxidative stress was assessed using total oxidative capacity (TOC) and total antioxidative capacity (TAC).
• Liver function was assessed via transaminases ALT and AST, and inflammation via C-reactive protein (CRP).
• The correlation with ALT and CRP further supports a hepatic metabolic dysfunction profile associated with elevated ASP.

Asprosin correlated with body composition measures, positively with fat mass and negatively with lean tissue markers.

• ASP positively correlated with fat mass (p < 0.05).
• ASP negatively correlated with muscle mass, total body water, and resting metabolic rate (p < 0.05).
• Body composition was assessed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), including visceral adipose tissue quantification, and bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA).
• These findings suggest that higher ASP is associated with an adverse body composition profile characterized by greater adiposity and reduced lean mass.

Asprosin was identified as a promising biomarker that may preferentially reflect hepatic rather than peripheral insulin resistance in obesity.

• ASP showed preferential correlation with hepatic IR markers including TyG-WHR, ALT, and CRP.
• The authors concluded that 'ASP may primarily reflect liver-specific metabolic dysfunction rather than peripheral IR.'
• Additional biochemical measures included serum C-peptide, HbA1c, and lipid profile.
• The authors highlight ASP as 'a promising biomarker and potential therapeutic target in obesity-related metabolic disease.'