Circulating Betatrophin Levels Are Increased in Anorexia and Decreased in Morbidly Obese Women

Context: Betatrophin is produced primarily by liver and adipose tissue and has been recently reported as a novel hormone promoting β-cell proliferation and β-cell mass and improving glucose tolerance. Objective: Because it is markedly regulated by nutritional status, we hypothesized that circulating betatrophin levels might be affected by pathophysiological conditions altering body weight. Setting and Patients: We analyzed circulating betatrophin levels in 149 female patients, including 99 with extreme body mass index (30 anorexia nervosa, 24 obese, 45 morbid obese, and 50 healthy eating/weight controls). Outcome Measurements: Serum betatrophin levels and its correlations with different anthropometric and biochemical parameters were measured. Results: Plasma betatrophin levels were significantly elevated in anorexic patients, whereas its levels were reduced in morbidly obese women when compared with normal-weight women. Plasma betatrophin correlated negatively with weight, body mass index, fat percentage, glucose, insulin, and homeostatic model assessment index and positively correlated with high-density lipoprotein. Conclusions: These results suggest that metabolic status is an important regulator of circulating betatrophin levels.