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Background: Adipocyte fatty acid binding protein (A-FABP) has been suggested as playing an important role in the pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome. The aim of this study was to evaluate serum A-FABP as a marker of metabolic syndrome and to assess its predictive accuracy in a Caucasian population.

Materials and methods: Anthropometric and serum analyses were performed for body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, A-FABP, insulin, triglycerides, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-c), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-c), uric acid, and glucose on 67 non-obese, healthy subjects and 71 subjects with metabolic syndrome. Quicki-quantitative insulin sensitivity check index, receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC-curve) and [chi]2 analysis were completed.

Results: Compared with healthy controls, subjects with metabolic syndrome had a significantly higher A-FABP serum level (mean: 42[middle dot]4 vs. 23[middle dot]7 [mu]g L-1; P < 0[middle dot]01). The A-FABP serum level correlated with fasting levels of insulin (r = 0[middle dot]34; P < 0[middle dot]01), glucose (r = 0[middle dot]21; P = 0[middle dot]01), triglycerides (r = 0[middle dot]4; P < 0[middle dot]01), BMI (r = 0[middle dot]57; P < 0[middle dot]01) and waist circumference (r = 0[middle dot]51; P < 0[middle dot]01), but negatively with HDL-c (r = -0[middle dot]23; P < 0[middle dot]01) and Quicki (r = -0[middle dot]32; P < 0[middle dot]01). The relationship was defined between serum A-FABP level and metabolic syndrome diagnosis with 40% sensitivity and 99% specificity at A-FABP level 16[middle dot]4 [mu]g L-1.

Conclusions: Serum A-FABP level might be an independent marker of metabolic syndrome in a Caucasian population.

Copyright (C) 2006 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.