Investigation of serum and salivary asprosin levels in children with epilepsy

Epilepsy is a common chronic neurological disorder characterised by seizures. Functional disturbances in metabolic processes may cause alterations in neuronal stimulation. Asprosin is a novel adipokine that is an important regulator of energy metabolism and has central metabolic effects. This study aimed to compare serum and salivary asprosin levels, anthropometric and biochemical data of children with epilepsy with healthy controls, and to analyse biochemical data in terms of epilepsy type. The study included 34 epilepsy patients and 30 healthy children aged 5-17 years. Anthropometric data (height, weight, body mass index) were recorded. Serum and salivary asprosin levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Triglyceride, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, fasting glucose, and insulin levels were analysed in serum samples. The HOMA-IR index, showing insulin resistance, was calculated. There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of age, gender, and anthropometric data. While serum asprosin levels in the epilepsy group were significantly higher than in the control group (p=0.049), no significant difference was found in salivary asprosin levels (p=0.643). Triglyceride levels were significantly higher in the epilepsy group (p=0.003), but there was no difference between the groups in terms of other biochemical parameters. When grouped according to the type of epilepsy (14 focal onset and 19 generalized onset), no significance was found in terms of asprosin and other parameters. The results of our study showed that serum asprosin levels were elevated in children with epilepsy regardless of epilepsy type. This result provides an important contribution to the literature in terms of possible link between asprosin and epilepsy. There is a need to investigate asprosin, a metabolic regulator, in epilepsy patients in more detail and in larger groups.