Biochemical Characterization of Novel Adipokines and Their Physiological Role in Insulin Sensitivity: A Systematic Review
Novel Adipokines and Their Physiological Role in Insulin Sensitivity
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54393/pjhs.v7i1.3633Keywords:
Novel Adipokines, Omentin-1, Chemerin, Nesfatin-1, Insulin Sensitivity, Metabolic Markers, Systematic ReviewAbstract
Novel adipokines have garnered attention for their roles in glucose regulation and the early development of metabolic imbalance. Several of these molecules influence insulin signalling, inflammation, and adipose tissue function, but their behavior across different clinical settings remains incompletely understood. Objectives: To synthesize recent human evidence on novel adipokines and insulin sensitivity, evaluate the consistency of their associations across various populations, and assess their potential relevance as early metabolic biomarkers. Methods: A systematic search was conducted across PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar for human studies published between 2019 and 2024. Original English-language studies measuring at least one novel adipokine alongside an insulin-related marker were included. Data were organized into structured tables and synthesised narratively. Risk of bias was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) criteria for observational studies. Results: Eighteen studies met the inclusion criteria. Omentin-1 showed the most consistent inverse association with insulin resistance and was reduced in obesity, metabolic syndrome, PCOS, and NAFLD. Chemerin demonstrated a reproducible positive association with insulin-resistant states and higher inflammatory burden. Nesfatin-1 showed variable behaviour across disease stages and populations. Visfatin, Vaspin, DLK1, and Galanin displayed emerging but less consistent associations. Adiposity, inflammation, and residual confounding influenced the strength and direction of reported relationships. Conclusions: Several novel adipokines may act as early markers of metabolic stress and altered insulin action. Omentin-1 appears protective, whereas Chemerin aligns with insulin resistance across multiple populations. Other adipokines show context-dependent responses. Clinical application remains limited by heterogeneity in study design, population characteristics, and laboratory methods.
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