Serum adropin levels and their association with sarcopenia in patients with diabetic nephropathy: a cross-sectional study

Background: Adropin, an endogenous peptide hormone with established roles in energy homeostasis and endothelial function, has been implicated in metabolic disease and chronic kidney disease. However, its relationship with sarcopenia in diabetic nephropathy (DN), an increasingly recognised complication of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), remains poorly characterised. We evaluated serum adropin in T2DM patients with and without DN compared with a younger healthy control group (with the age difference acknowledged as a major confounder) and assessed whether adropin levels are associated with sarcopenia indices and total antioxidant status (TAS). Methods: This cross-sectional study included 83 participants: 59 patients with T2DM (37 with DN, 21 without DN (1 with missing UACR)) and 24 healthy controls. Sarcopenia evaluation, including body composition by bioelectrical impedance analysis and hand-grip strength using a hand dynamometer, was completed in 31 diabetic patients. Sarcopenia was operationally defined by reduced hand-grip strength according to EWGSOP2 thresholds (