Fibroblast growth factor 21 and childhood obesity

Childhood obesity is an energy-metabolic disorder in which excessive accumulation of systemic fat is caused by various factors, and it has been confirmed that childhood obesity increases the risk factors of diseases such as immune system, cardiovascular system and endocrine system.Studies have confirmed that fibroblast growth factor 21(FGF21)can reduce blood glucose, glucagon, triglyceride and improve islet cell function, which makes FGF21 a promising drug in the treatment of diabetes, childhood obesity and metabolic syndrome.However, the underlying mechanisms of FGF21 have not been fully elucidated.The half-life of exogenous FGF21 in the circulation is short and it is still unclear whether the pharmacological dose of FGF21 has side effects on the body.These problems showed that the safety and feasibility of long-term FGF21 therapy are challenging, so in this paper, the structure and function of FGF21 and its relationship with childhood obesity are reviewed, in order to provide a new perspective for the treatment of childhood obesity. Key words: Childhood obesity; Fibroblast growth factor 21