DOI 10.1186/s12933-015-0326-9 ORIGINAL INVESTIGATION

Higher serum betatrophin level in type 2 diabetes subjects is associated with urinary albumin excretion and renal function Chang‑Chiang Chen1,2†, Hendra Susanto1†, Wen‑Han Chuang1, Ta‑Yu Liu1 and Chih‑Hong Wang1* Background: Betatrophin is a newly identified liver‑derived hormone that is associated with glucose homeostasis and lipid metabolism. Although dysregulated lipid metabolism results in diabetic nephropathy (DN) development in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), it is not understood whether betatrophin is associated with urinary albumin excretion and renal function. Methods: Based on albumin/creatinine ratio (ACR), 109 T2DM patients were divided into normoalbuminuria (ACR <30 mg/g), microalbuminuria (ACR between 30 and 300 mg/g), and macroalbuminuria (ACR> 300 mg/g). Serum betatrophin levels of 109 T2DM patients and 32 healthy subjects were determined by enzyme‑linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: Serum level of betatrophin was significantly increased in T2DM patients with normoalbuminuria, microalbu‑ minuria, and macroalbuminuria as compared with healthy subjects (P < 0.001). Serum betatrophin level was positivel