Relationship between Spexin Neuropeptide and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review

Introduction: Spexin, a novel neuropeptide with diverse physiological functions, can be a cardiovascular disease risk assessment biomarker. This study investigated the association between serum spexin concentration and cardiovascular risk factors in children and adolescents. Materials and Methods: A search was conducted to collect studies between January 2007 and March 2021 in the PubMed, Embase, and Scopus databases. The keywords "neuropeptide Q" and "spexin," along with keywords related to diabetes, inflammation, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular disease, were used for the search. Results: A total of 11 full-text articles were included in the study. In six of the studies, the spexin level was lower in obese children and adolescents than in normal-weight individuals, and the difference was significant in four of them (p <0.05). An inverse relationship was observed between spexin and insulin resistance in six of the studies; however, no correlation was found between spexin and glucose in the studies. The results were contradictory regarding inflammation, but the positive correlation of spexin with anti-inflammatory agents showed the anti-inflammatory effects of this neuropeptide. Five of the studies investigated the relationship between spexin and cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension, and three of them showed a positive role for spexin in cardiovascular health. Also, one of the studies examined the effect of spexin on metabolic syndrome and confirmed the protective role of spexin. Conclusion: It seems that this neuropeptide positively affects metabolic status, especially weight control and insulin resistance, in children and adolescents.