Biomarkers · Inflammation
Growth Differentiation Factor-15 (GDF-15)
Lower values go with lower risk of death. Not measured in our NHANES panel. The curve is drawn from the published study (source below).
GDF-15 and risk of death
Published curve higher than the NHANES fitNHANES fit higher
Risk of death relative to the curve's reference value, drawn from the published study (source below).
What studies found when this marker was changed
They describe what happened in those study groups, not a recommendation. See all catalogued interventions.
Measured changes in GDF-15, study by study
2 effects with a numeric size, each from one study arm: the dot is the reported change, the line its 95% interval where one was given. Green points move the marker the way lower risk of death lies; amber the other way. Study results in the groups studied, not predictions for a person.
| Type | Intervention | Reported effect | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| pharmacologic | Oral conjugated equine estrogen vs placebo for 36 months in recently menopausal women (KEEPS) | Serum GDF-15 was 108 pg/mL lower with oral CEE than placebo at 36 months (oCEE n=37, placebo n=38) | RCT | Faubion L, et al. Physiol Rep. 2020;8(16):e14535. |
Things that worsen it
| Type | Condition or exposure | Reported effect | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| exercise | Vigorous-intensity isocaloric exercise 5 days/week for 3 months in physically inactive adults with overweight or obesity | Fasting GDF-15 rose 21% (95% CI 0 to 46) within the vigorous-exercise arm after 3 months; n=37 | RCT | Quist JS, et al. Appetite. 2023;182:106423. |
What else moves this marker
They describe those study groups, not an individual, and an association is not a cause.
Diseases and conditions
| What | Effect on the marker | Comparison · population | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| ↑ Colorectal cancer · Serum GDF15 in CRC patients vs healthy controls | SMD +1.08 (95% CI 0.56 to 1.59) | CRC patients vs healthy controls · 8 studies of serum GDF15 in colorectal cancer | meta analysis · PMID 26990020 |
| ↑ Depression · Circulating GDF-15 in adults with depression vs controls | SMD +0.39 (95% CI 0.19 to 0.58) | Depressed individuals vs controls · 6 studies in meta-analysis (n=5,657); late-life, post-stroke and general adult cohorts | meta analysis · PMID 42049068 |
| ↑ Preeclampsia · Circulating GDF-15 at diagnosis vs gestational-age-matched normal pregnancy | SMD +0.66 (95% CI 0.16 to 1.17) | Preeclampsia vs normal pregnancy at diagnosis · 11 observational studies; 498 women with preeclampsia, 2,349 normal pregnancies | meta analysis · PMID 36410395 |
Sources
- Risk curve: Xie S 2019 (PMID 30697778): all-cause HR 2.52 (2.06-2.97) highest vs lowest GDF-15 category. Scaled to published population values.
- Xie S, Lu L, Liu L. Growth differentiation factor-15 and the risk of cardiovascular diseases and all-cause mortality: A meta-analysis of prospective studies. Clinical Cardiology. 2019;42(5):513-523.
Map Growth Differentiation Factor-15 (GDF-15) against another biomarker.
Related markers: Alpha-1-Antichymotrypsin (AACT) · Alpha-1-Antitrypsin (AAT) · Antinuclear Antibodies (ANA) · CD4:CD8 T-Cell Ratio · CD8+ T-Cell Count · Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) · Fibrinogen · High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein (hs-CRP)