The Effect of FGF21 and Its Genetic Variants on Food and Drug Cravings, Adipokines and Metabolic Traits
Sarah Epperlein,
Claudia Gebhardt,
Kerstin Rohde,
Rima Chakaroun,
Marie Patt,
Imke Schamarek,
Susan Kralisch,
John T. Heiker,
Markus Scholz,
Michael Stumvoll,
Peter Kovacs,
Jana Breitfeld,
Anke Tönjes
Affiliations
Sarah Epperlein
Medical Department III–Endocrinology, Nephrology, Rheumatology, University of Leipzig Medical Center, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
Claudia Gebhardt
Helmholtz Institute for Metabolic, Obesity and Vascular Research (HI-MAG) Helmholtz Center Munich at the University of Leipzig and the University of Leipzig Medical Center, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
Kerstin Rohde
Helmholtz Institute for Metabolic, Obesity and Vascular Research (HI-MAG) Helmholtz Center Munich at the University of Leipzig and the University of Leipzig Medical Center, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
Rima Chakaroun
Medical Department III–Endocrinology, Nephrology, Rheumatology, University of Leipzig Medical Center, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
Marie Patt
Medical Department III–Endocrinology, Nephrology, Rheumatology, University of Leipzig Medical Center, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
Imke Schamarek
Medical Department III–Endocrinology, Nephrology, Rheumatology, University of Leipzig Medical Center, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
Susan Kralisch
Medical Department III–Endocrinology, Nephrology, Rheumatology, University of Leipzig Medical Center, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
John T. Heiker
Helmholtz Institute for Metabolic, Obesity and Vascular Research (HI-MAG) Helmholtz Center Munich at the University of Leipzig and the University of Leipzig Medical Center, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
Markus Scholz
Institute for Medical Informatics, Statistics and Epidemiology, Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig, 04107 Leipzig, Germany
Michael Stumvoll
Medical Department III–Endocrinology, Nephrology, Rheumatology, University of Leipzig Medical Center, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
Peter Kovacs
Medical Department III–Endocrinology, Nephrology, Rheumatology, University of Leipzig Medical Center, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
Jana Breitfeld
Medical Department III–Endocrinology, Nephrology, Rheumatology, University of Leipzig Medical Center, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
Anke Tönjes
Medical Department III–Endocrinology, Nephrology, Rheumatology, University of Leipzig Medical Center, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is a regulator of addictive behavior. Increasing evidence suggests an impact of FGF21 on eating behavior, food and drug cravings and on other adipokines like insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) or adiponectin. We investigated the association of serum FGF21 and genetic variants with aspects of food and drug craving and obesity related metabolic parameters including serum adipokine levels. Standardized questionnaires, blood samples and anthropometric data of the Sorbs cohort (n = 1046) were analyzed using SPSS. For genetic analyses, the FGF21-locus ±10 kb was genotyped and analyzed using PLINK. Validation was conducted in a second independent cohort (n = 704). FGF21 was significantly associated with alcohol and coffee consumption, smoking and eating behavior (disinhibition). We confirmed correlations of FGF21 serum levels with IGF-1, adiponectin, pro-enkephalin, adipocyte fatty-acid-binding protein, chemerin and progranulin. FGF21 genetic variants were associated with anthropometric and metabolic parameters, adipokines, food and drug craving while strongest evidence was seen with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). We highlight the potential role of FGF21 in food and drug cravings and provide new insights regarding the link of FGF21 with other adipokines as well as with metabolic traits, in particular those related to lipid metabolism (LDL-C).
