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Background: Circulating asprosin is a newly discovered adipokine that triggers the release of hepatic glucose stores and increases appetite. Asprosin levels are elevated in adult obese men as well as in mice, and reductions in asprosin protect against the hyperinsulinism associated with metabolic syndrome in mice with diet-induced obesity, which indicates a potential therapeutic role of asprosin in obesity and type 2 diabetes. Objectives: Few data on asprosin in children are available, which is why this study aimed to assess concentrations of fasting asprosin, as well as its relationship to parameters of glucose and lipid metabolism, in children. Methods: Data on clinical and metabolic parameters were collected from 40 healthy normal-weight and 47 obese children. Circulating asprosin levels were measured using an ELISA. Results: The concentrations of fasting asprosin were lower in the obese children (9.24 ± 4.11 ng/mL) than in the normal-weight controls (12.33 ± 4.18 ng/mL, p < 0.001). When comparing the two groups by sex, both the boys and the girls showed similar trends. In within-group comparison, the asprosin levels were lower in boys than in girls only in the obese group (8.13 ± 4.10 vs. 10.61 ± 3.78 ng/mL, p = 0.013) but not in the control group. Interestingly, asprosin was correlated with ALT after adjusting for age and sex in all participants; in boys, asprosin was correlated with BMI, HOMA-IR, insulin, and HDL after adjusting for age. Conclusions: Concentrations of asprosin were significantly lower in obese children than in normal-weight children, and there was a gender difference in asprosin concentration. Our results suggest a complex role for asprosin in energy metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: A novel bioactive peptide, mitochondrial‐derived peptide (MOTS‐c), has recently attracted attention as a potential prevention or therapeutic option for obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). MOTS‐c profiles have not yet been reported in human obesity and T2DM. We aimed to determine circulating MOTS‐c levels in obesity and explore the association between MOTS‐c levels and various metabolic parameters. Methods: In this case‐control study, 40 obese children and adolescents (27 males) and 57 controls (40 males) were recruited in the Hubei Province of China in 2017. Circulating MOTS‐c levels were measured, clinical data (eg, glucose, insulin, and lipid profile) were recorded, and anthropometric measurements were performed. Finally, we investigated correlations between MOTS‐c levels and related variables. Results: MOTS‐c levels were significantly decreased in the obese group compared with the control group (472.61 ±22.83 vs 561.64 ±19.19 ng/mL, P <.01). After classification by sex, MOTS‐c levels were significantly decreased in obese male children and adolescents compared to their counterparts (465.26 ±24.53 vs 584.07 ±21.18 ng/mL, P <.001), while they were comparable between the obese and healthy female subjects (487.89 ±49.77 vs 508.85 ±38.76 ng/mL, P >.05). Further, MOTS‐c levels were negatively correlated with body mass index (BMI), BMI SD score, waist circumference, waist‐to‐hip ratio, fasting insulin level, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA‐IR), and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in the male cohort. Conclusions: Circulating MOTS‐c levels were decreased in obese male children and adolescents and correlated with markers of insulin resistance and obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]