Association between Inflammatory and Obesity Markers in a Swiss Population-Based Sample (CoLaus Study)

Abstract

Objective: To assess the associations between obesity markers (BMI, waist circumference and %body fat) and inflammatory markers (interleukin-1β (IL-1β); interleukin-6 (IL-6); tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP)). Methods: Population sample of 2,884 men and 3,201 women aged 35–75 years. Associations were assessed using ridge regression adjusting for age, leisure-time physical activity, and smoking. Results: No differences were found in IL-1β levels between participants with increased obesity markers and healthy counterparts; multivariate regression showed %body fat to be negatively associated with IL-1β. Participants with high %body fat or abdominal obesity had higher IL-6 levels, but no independent association between IL-6 levels and obesity markers was found on multivariate regression. Participants with abdominal obesity had higher TNF-α levels, and positive associations were found between TNF-α levels and waist circumference in men and between TNF-α levels and BMI in women. Obese participants had higher hs-CRP levels, and these differences persisted after multivariate adjustment; similarly, positive associations were found between hs-CRP levels and all obesity markers studied. Conclusion: Obesity markers are differentially associated with cytokine levels. %Body fat is negatively associated with IL-1β; BMI (in women) and waist circumference (in men) are associated with TNF-α; all obesity markers are positively associated with hs-CRP.

Suggestive evidence of a multi-cytokine resistin pathway in humans and its role on cardiovascular events in high-risk individuals

“…It is of note, that, as previously reported in the general population434445, when singly considered, only some cytokines, were variably associated with only some cardiovascular risk factors, thus suggesting that the two scores we utilized do sign comprehensively a biological pathway providing information which is not entirely derivable from any single cytokine. These associations were obtained in healthy individuals taking no medications, thus making sure that our results are not biased by either concomitant overt diseases and/or organ damages, or by ongoing treatments.…”

Biochemical markers of psoriasis as a metabolic disease

“…A positive correlation between TNF-alpha and BMI has also been reported [137]. Recently, it was reported that elevated plasma levels of TNF-alpha are associated with left ventricular diastolic dysfunction, which is one of the earliest manifestations of left ventricular dysfunction due to diabetes mellitus [138], while administration of TNF-alpha inhibitors leads to an increase of HDL levels [39].…”

Gut Microbiome and Obesity: A Plausible Explanation for Obesity

“…For example, a recent review and meta-analysis identified 51 cross-sectional studies investigating the positive correlation (r=.36) between obesity in adults and C-reactive protein (a key marker for inflammation) [69]. Similarly, systemic increases in a wide range of inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor- alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and adiponectin have also been associated with increasing adiposity [70, 71], and with increased risk for metabolic disorders such as cardiovascular diseases, fatty liver disease, and type 2 diabetes [72, 73]. Despite these various association studies, the causal pathways between obesity, inflammation, and metabolic disease remain incompletely understood.…”