Table 1 Characteristics of the included studies in the systematic review

Corica et al., 2021 [20]

Single-center, cross-sectional, case-controlled study; Italy

BMI ≥  + 2 SDS, in accordance with definition of obesity by WHO for children from the age of 5 years [24].

Serum (overnight fasting at least 8 h); ELISA

43 m/f: 21/22;

Pre-p/p:17 /26

BMI ≥  + 2  SDS;

Age: (11.9 ± 2.1) yrs

Asprosin:(331.9 ± 120.5) pg/mL

24 m/f: 7/17

Pre-p/p:10/14

BMI <  + 2 SDS;

Age: (10.7 ± 2.9) yrs

Asprosin:(358.1 ± 74.1) pg/mL

Long et al., 2019 [19]

Single-center, cross-sectional, case-controlled study; China

BMI greater than the age- and sex-appropriate 95th percentile based on the criteria of the BMI growth reference for Chinese children aged 0–18 years [25, 26].

Plasma (overnight fasting at least 12 h); ELISA

47 m/f: 26/21

Boys: BMI (24.77 ± 2.33) kg/m²; BMI SDS:(2.09 ± 0.47); Age: (11.04 ± 1.34) yrs.; Girls: BMI (20.80 ± 4.99) kg/m²;

BMI SDS: (2.22 ± 1.08); Age: (8.29 ± 1.21) yrs

Asprosin:(9.24 ± 4.11) ng/mL

40 m/f: 23/17

Boys: BMI (16.17 ± 2.34) kg/m²; BMI SDS:(–0.52 ± 0.84); Age: (10.31 ± 1.76) yrs

Girls: BMI (15.36 ± 1.61) kg/m²;

BMI SDS: (–0.27 ± 0.95); Age: (8.91 ± 1.42) yrs

Asprosin:(12.33 ± 4.18) ng/mL

Wang et al., 2019 [15]

Single-center, cross-sectional, case-controlled study; China

BMI exceeded 95% of the normal level for a child of that age, according to the BMI reference criteria for Chinese children [27].

The BMI data were standardized to age-specific and sex-specific centiles based on the Working Group on Obesity in China Normal weight and were given as BMI SDS. WHR was calculated as waist (cm) divided by height (cm).

Serum (overnight fasting at least 12 h); ELISA

79 m/f: 56/23

Pre-p/p:38/41

BMI (27.44 ± 3.93) kg/m²; BMI SDS (2.88 ± 0.59); Age: (10.82 ± 2.12) yrs

Asprosin: 1.51 ± 0.44 ng/mL;

TNF-α: 11.67 ± 5.31 pg/mL;

Adiponectin:3.08 ± 1.41lg/mL;

leptin: 71.89 (44.32–87.00) ng/mL

40 m/f: 20/20;

Pre-p/p:21/19

BMI (15.67 ± 2.30) kg/m²; BMI SDS (–1.00 ± 1.02); Age: (10.94 ± 2.19) yrs

Asprosin: 0.96 ± 0.48 ng/mL;

TNF-α: 3.97 ± 1.95 pg/mL; Adiponectin: 3.92 ± 1.74 lg/mL; Leptin: 7.07 (3.56–10.88) ng/mL

Silistre et al., 2020 [16]

Prospective study; Turkey

According to WHO Reference 2017 [24]: Low weight (BMI-SDS ≤ -1); normal weight (BMI-SDS >—1 and ≤ 1; overweight (BMI SDS > 1 and ≤ 2) and obesity (BMI-SDS > 2).

Serum (overnight fasting at least 12 h); ELISA

44 m/f: 20/24

BMI: 29.585(20.56) kg/m²;

BMI SDS: 2.475(1.61);

Age: (12.196 ± 2.62) yrs

Asprosin: 106.293 ± 122.69 ng/mL

60 m/f:32/28

BMI: 19.745 (7.82) kg/m²; BMI SDS: -.035(1.94);

Age: (12.921 ± 2.51) yrs

Asprosin: 70.903 ± 17.49 ng/mL;

Liu et al., 2021 [17]

Single-center, cross-sectional, case-controlled study; China

According to the BMI reference for Chinese children, children with a BMI > 95% for their age and sex were diagnosed as having obesity. The BMI data were standardized to age- and sex-specific centiles and were converted into BMI SDS) [27].

Serum (overnight fasting at least 12 h); ELISA

75 m/f:52/26

BMI: (27.06 ± 3.24) kg/m²; BMI SDS: (3.514 ± 1.1);

Age: (10.752 ± 2.02) yrs

Asprosin: 1.356 ± 0.419 μg/mL;

TNF-α: 5.32 ± 4.90 pg/mL;

Adiponectin:3.33 ± 1.50 μg/mL

35 m/f:19/16

BMI: (15.79 ± 2.28) kg/m²;

BMI SDS: (− 0.53 ± 0.58);

Age: (10.95 ± 2.29) yrs

Asprosin:1.12 ± 0.43 μg/mL; TNF-α: 1.81 ± 0.65 pg/mL; Adiponectin:3.85 ± 1.78 μg/mL

Moradi et al., 2023 [18]

Cross-sectional, case-controlled study; Iran

BMI higher than the 95th percentile related to age and gender entered the group with obesity.

Serum (overnight fasting 12–16 h); ELISA

35

BMI: (28.13 ± 5.75) kg/m2; Age: (132.57 ± 32.74) mo

Asprosin:8.65 ± 2.01 nmol/L;

Visfatin: 2.09 ± 1.03 ng/mL; Metrnl: 72 ± 21.9 pg/mL

35

BMI: (18.41 ± 2.65) kg/m²; Age: (138.77 ± 25.65) mo

Asprosin:6.69 ± 1.97 nmol/L; Visfatin: 1.49 ± 0.87 ng/mL; Metrnl: 100 ± 27.84 pg/mL