Biomedical Research

Obesity is associated with a low-grade inflammation of white adipose tissue (WAT) resulting from chronic activation of proinflammatory molecules: C-reactive Protein(CRP), TNF-alpha and interleukin-6 (IL-6).These cytokines subsequently lead to insulin resistance, im-paired glucose tolerance and even diabetes. This is a cross-sectional, open label, compara-tive, observational study, in a North Indian population cohort. Thirty cases of obesity were evaluated, against twenty normal weight regarding metabolic and inflammatory markers in relation to cardiovascular risk factors. All patients underwent detailed clinical and bio-chemical, CRP and TNF-α estimation at baseline and at the end of the study period. The dif-ferences between the percentage changes in each parameter in the two groups was com-pared by applying the unpaired t-test using the SPSS 10.0 software. Comparison showed significant difference in CRP and TNF-α between normal weight individuals (BMI<30) and obese individuals (BMI>30) at a p value <0.001. Similarly comparison of total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and Triglyceride levels, showed significant difference be-tween normal weight individuals (BMI<30) and obese individuals (BMI>30) at a p value <0.05. Inflammatory markers like TNF-α and CRP levels were elevated in obese subjects, reinforcing the view that obesity is in part an inflammatory disorder. Further there was evi-dence of worsening dyslipidemia with BMI and cardiovascular risks The study also sug-gested that inflammatory marker TNF-α is correlated with cardiovascular risk factors in obesity, rather than just being a manifestation of the inflammatory state.

Author(s): Khan R, Haque S.F, Quaiser S
Abstract | Full-Text | PDF

Share this