Serum levels of adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein are decreased in chronic pancreatitis.

Abstract Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is associated with an increased risk for diabetes mellitus and vascular disease. Adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein (AFABP) is a novel adipokine that is independently associated with the metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease. In the current study, we investigated serum AFABP levels in CP patients compared with sex- and body mass index-matched controls. Adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein was determined with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in control subjects (n = 60) and diabetic as well as nondiabetic CP (n = 60) patients and correlated to clinical and biochemical measures of glucose and lipid metabolism, as well as renal function in both groups. Median serum AFABP levels were significantly lower in CP patients compared with controls (12.5 vs 20.9 μg/L, P = 0.003). Furthermore, body mass index, sex, and CP independently predicted circulating AFABP. In contrast, no significant difference in circulating AFABP could be demonstrated between diabetic and nondiabetic CP patients. Circulating AFABP is paradoxically lower in CP patients and does not depend on pancreatic diabetes. Our data do not support a role of circulating AFABP in metabolic and vascular risk in CP patients.