Pigment Epithelium-Derived Factor Declines in Response to an Oral Glucose Load and Is Correlated with Vitamin D and BMI but Not Diabetes Status in Children and Young Adults.

Background: Pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) is associated with obesity and diabetes complications in adults, yet little is known about PEDF in younger individuals. We investigated the relationship between PEDF and various metabolic biomarkers in young healthy volunteers (HV) and similar-aged patients with diabetes (type 1 and type 2). Methods: A fasting blood sample was collected in 48 HV, 11 patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D), and 11 patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) 12–25 years of age. In 9 healthy subjects, PEDF was also serially measured during a frequently sampled oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Results: PEDF was positively correlated with BMI and systolic blood pressure and negatively correlated with vitamin D. Upon multivariable analysis, BMI and vitamin D were independent predictors of PEDF. Prior to adjustment, PEDF was highest in T2D patients (7,168.9 ± 4417.4 ng/mL) and lowest in individuals with T1D (2,967.7 ± 947.1 ng/mL) but did not differ by diagnosis when adjusted for BMI and vitamin D. Among volunteers who underwent an OGTT, PEDF declined by ∼20% in response to an oral glucose load. Conclusion: PEDF was acutely regulated by a glucose load and was correlated with BMI but not with diabetes. The negative correlation with vitamin D, independent of BMI, raises the question whether PEDF plays a compensatory role in bone matrix mineralization.