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Shaun Sabico

Associate Professor

Associate Professor and Deputy Director

Sciences
Chair for Biomarkers of Chronic Diseases, Biochemistry Department, College of Science, KSU

Serum asprosin levels are associated with obesity and insulin resistance in arab adults

Background
Asprosin, a novel adipokine, has been implicated in glucose regulation, insulin production, and appetite stimulation. Hence, the current study explores circulating asprosin levels and their associations with insulin resistance (IR) and other parameters in obese and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) Saudi subjects.

Methods
A total of N = 291 (89 control, 105 T2DM/obese and 97 obese) subjects were included in this cross-sectional study. Fasting glucose and lipid profiles were measured routinely. Adiponectin, leptin, C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1, and asprosin were measured using commercially available assays.

Results
Serum asprosin levels were found to be significantly highest in obese subjects [3.7 ng/ml (2.6–5.0)] than T2DM/obese [0.1 ng/ml (0.0–0.4)] and controls [0.2 ng/ml (0.1–0.3)] (p < 0.001). In the T2DM/obese group, users of metformin alone or in combination had significantly lower asprosin levels than those whose medication history was unknown [0.03 ng/ml (0.02–0.05) versus 0.2 ng/ml (0.1–0.4); p < 0.001]. Stepwise multiple linear regression analysis revealed that only glucose, insulin and adiponectin were the most important predictors of asprosin, explaining 61.3% (p < 0.001) of the variances perceived.

Conclusion
Asprosin levels are associated with markers of IR independent of adiposity and inflammation and are influenced by oral hypoglycemics, particularly metformin.

Volume Number
34
Issue Number
1
Magazine \ Newspaper
Journal of King Saud University - Science
Pages
101690
more of publication
publications

Introduction: Healthful plant-based foods can improve youth nutrition and contribute to global targets such as Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2 on ending malnutrition, SDG3…

by Yearley S, Miller V, Cudhea F, Shi P, Sharib JR, Lara-Castor L, Essel K, Micha R, Zhang J, Mozaffarian D; Global Dietary Database
2026
Published in:
BMJ Global Health
publications

Background: The metabolic effects of Metformin (Met) and lifestyle modification in early type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) management are well established, but their influence on…

by Almosfer M, Sabico S, Wani K, Khattak MNK, Almarashad IS, Veronese N, Al-Daghri NM
2026
Published in:
Aging Clinical and Experimental Research
publications

Background: Taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages can improve public health. We aimed to characterise the extent and types of sugar-sweetened beverage taxes implemented worldwide and…

by Loaeza LM, Lara-Castor L, Sharib JR, Cudhea F, Wang M, Li P, Mozaffarian D; Global Dietary Database collaborators
2026
Published in:
Lancet Global Health