Relation of Serum Irisin Levels with Adiposity, Components of Metabolic Syndrome and Carotid Intima Media Thickness in Prepubertal Children with Obesity: A Cross-Sectional Study
Abstract
Aim Irisin, a newly discovered adipomyokine, has pleiotropic effects in metabolic and energy homeostasis, insulin resistance (IR), and browning of white adipose tissue. The aim of this study was to evaluate irisin levels in children with obesity and also to elucidate possible relationships between irisin with anthropometric obesity indices, parameters of metabolic syndrome (MetS), and intima media thickness (IMT).Methods A total of 77 prepubertal children, 4-12 years old, were enrolled in this study, including 44 children with obesity (BMI ≥ 95th percentile) and 33 normal weight controls of matched age and gender. Detailed clinical examination, anthropometric parameters, laboratory data, including serum irisin levels, using ELISA technique and cIMT measurement were carried out in all subjects.Results Children with obesity had significantly higher values of irisin compared to controls (p = 0.003) independently of age, gender, or IR status. Irisin levels were positively correlated with weight z-score, Body Mass Index (BMI), BMI z-score, % Body Fat, waist circumference (WC), triglycerides (TG), and HOMA-IR (p = 0.016, p = 0.025, p = 0.028, p = 0.035, p = 0.019, p = 0.049, p = 0.007 respectively) and inversely correlated with HDL (p = 0.037). In multiple regression analysis irisin levels were strongly associated with excess adiposity (p < 0.001) and uric acid (p = 0.054).Conclusion Children with obesity showed an unfavorable cardiometabolic profile and higher levels of IMT and irisin. Moreover, irisin was correlated with metabolic parameters, suggesting that irisin can serve as a prognostic index for future development of MetS in children with obesity.
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These findings suggest a compensatory mechanism in which adipocyte-derived irisin aims to stimulate brown adipose tissue activity, increase energy expenditure, and counteract insulin resistance.
“These findings suggest a compensatory mechanism in which adipocyte-derived irisin aims to stimulate brown adipose tissue activity, increase energy expenditure, and counteract insulin resistance [60,61].”
From Exercise-Induced Muscle–Fat Crosstalk: Molecular Mediators and Their Pharmacological Modulation for the Maintenance of Metabolic Flexibility in Aging (2025) · cites this paper as [61]
In 77 obese prepubertal children aged 4 to 12 years, elevated serum irisin levels and potential irisin resistance were reported in obese participants compared with non-obese controls.
“A study by Herouvi et al. (2025), involving 77 obese prepubertal children aged 4 to 12 years, reported elevated serum irisin levels and potential irisin resistance in obese participants compared with non-obese controls.”
From Exercise-Induced Muscle–Fat Crosstalk: Molecular Mediators and Their Pharmacological Modulation for the Maintenance of Metabolic Flexibility in Aging (2025) · cites this paper as [61]
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Tero-Vescan, A., Degens, H., Matsakas, A., Ștefănescu, R., Ősz, B. E., & Slevin, M. (2025) · Pharmaceuticals · doi:10.3390/ph18081222 · Cited by 44 · see citing works
“These findings suggest a compensatory mechanism in which adipocyte-derived irisin aims to stimulate brown adipose tissue activity, increase energy expenditure, and counteract insulin resistance [60,61].”
- Authors
- Herouvi, D., Vlachopapadopoulou, E. A., Vakaki, M., Gouriotis, D., Marmarinos, A., Kalpia, C., Kossiva, L., Tsolia, M., & Karavanaki, K.
- Affiliations
- Panagiotis & Aglaia Kyriakou Children's Hospital (GR)
- National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (GR)
- Corresponding author
- Herouvi, D.
- ORCID
- Venue
- Endocrine
- Published
- 2024-12-26
- Volume
- 87
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 1031-1040
- ISSN
- 0969-711X (ISSN-L)
- 1559-0100
- OpenAlex
- W4405803845
- Cited by
- 5
- References
- 55
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 2
- FWCI
- 1.54
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- Locations
- Endocrine (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Hellenic Medical Association for Obesity (N 2208/8-9-2022)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Adipokines, Inflammation, and Metabolic Diseases
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Adipose Tissue and Metabolism
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Cardiovascular Disease and Adiposity
- Keywords
- irisin, childhood obesity, metabolic syndrome, carotid intima-media thickness, adiposity, insulin resistance, adipokines, uric acid, cardiovascular risk, prepubertal children
- MeSH terms
- Child, Child, Preschool, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Fibronectins, Humans, Insulin Resistance, Male, Body Mass Index, Metabolic Syndrome, Adiposity, Waist Circumference, Carotid Intima-Media Thickness, Pediatric Obesity
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