Role of inflammation markers in the prediction of weight gain and development of obesity in adults – A prospective study

Abstract

Background and aims There is a growing body of literature confirming the association between inflammation and obesity. Recent research suggests that inflammation may play a role in weight gain. The aim of the study was to analyse whether serum inflammatory markers predict weight gain or development of obesity in a prospective study design. Methods and results The baseline study (DILGOM 2007) consists of a population-based sample of 5024 Finnish men and women aged 25–75 years, of whom 3735 participated in the follow-up study in 2014. Baseline data collection included a questionnaire on health behaviour, physical examinations and blood samples including serum high-sensitivity C-Reactive Protein (hs-CRP), Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra), Interleukin-6 (IL-6), Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha (TNF-alpha) and high molecular weight adiponectin (HMW adiponectin). Indicators of obesity were weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference and body fat percentage (% body fat). At baseline hs-CRP, IL-1Ra, IL-6, TNF-alpha and HMW adiponectin associated strongly (p < 0.0001) with obesity indicators. After adjustment for several potential predictors of obesity, hs-CRP and IL-1Ra associated inversely with changes in obesity indicators during the 7-year follow-up. These associations disappeared, however, after further adjustment for baseline BMI. Only HMW adiponectin retained a modest positive association with the change in weight (p = 0.008), in BMI (p = 0.007) and in waist circumference (p = 0.002). Conclusion These findings suggest that the inflammatory markers, although highly associated with obesity, do not predict weight gain in an adult population. This could translate into inflammation being a result of obesity rather than a contributing factor to it.

The association of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein with future weight gain in adults

“…CRP was not included in a US study with a 3-year follow-up of 45–64-year-old individuals ( n = 11,687), however, higher baseline levels of fibrinogen and leukocytes were associated with higher weight gain particularly among those who recently had quit smoking [ 26 ]. Our results do not confirm the findings from these two previous studies, but are in line with another Finnish study where smoking status did not affect the association between hs-CRP and weight change [ 34 ].…”

“…The few existing studies have reported similar and contradictory results to ours. The results of a Finnish population-based study on associations of several inflammation markers including hs-CRP with future weight gain (self-reported weight) during a 7-year follow-up among 25–75 years old adults ( n = 3369) are consistent with ours, such that no associations between hs-CRP and obesity indicators were observed after adjusting for baseline BMI [ 34 ]. On the contrary, in a study from the US ( n = 3254), higher baseline CRP concentration was associated with both weight loss and weight gain.…”

Comprehensive biomarker profiling of hypertension in 36 985 Finnish individuals

“…FINRISK 2007 participants who lived in Helsinki, Vantaa, Turku and Loimaa area were invited to a follow-up examination in 2014 (participation rate for health examination in 2014 54%) [ 7 , 8 ]. All living participants of Health 2000 were invited to participate in a follow-up examination in 2011 (participation rate for health examination 59%) [ 9 ].…”

The Immune Response in Adipocytes and Their Susceptibility to Infection: A Possible Relationship with Infectobesity

“…On the one hand, several studies have mentioned that inflammatory markers may be associated with weight gain, especially in middle-aged adults [ 57 ]. By contrast, some reports have noted a negative correlation between cytokine levels (IL-6, adiponectin, and TNF-α) and obesity [ 58 ], suggesting that inflammation is a consequence of obesity rather than a contributing factor [ 56 ].…”