Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4 Activity Is Related to Body Composition, Measures of Adiposity, and Insulin Resistance in Subjects with Excessive Adiposity and Different Degrees of Glucose Tolerance

Background. The enzyme dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4) has been recently recognized as an adipo-myokine. However, studies that associate its constitutive activity with body composition, anthropometry, and insulin resistance (IR) are very scarce and included only healthy people. Methods. First, we investigated the relationships of constitutive DPP4 activity, body composition (assessed by bioelectrical impedance analysis), and measures of adiposity and IR in fifty-two subjects of both sexes, 18-50 years, and BMI ≥25.0 kg/m2 who comprised three groups according to glucose tolerance. Additionally, we evaluated associations among DPP4 activity and adipokines, gut peptides, and biochemical variables at fasting and 30 and 60 min after a standardized meal intake. Results. DPP4 activity was no different among the three groups. At fasting, pooled analysis showed it was positively correlated with measures of central adiposity, such as WC (P=0.011) and WHR (P=0.009), and with all measures of IR, but inversely related to indexes of general adiposity, such as fat mass percentage (P=0.014) and BAI (P=0.0003). DPP4 activity was also associated with lean mass (r=0.57, P