Obesity, and not insulin resistance, is the major determinant of serum inflammatory cardiovascular risk markers in pre-menopausal women.

Abstract

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS:

Increased serum inflammatory markers have been found in obesity and insulin-resistant states, and could play a causative role in insulin resistance, atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. The polycystic ovary syndrome represents a human model of insulin resistance because both lean and obese polycystic ovary syndrome patients are insulin-resistant compared with non-hyperandrogenic women. We evaluated whether obesity, insulin resistance, or both, are related to the increased concentrations of inflammatory markers in pre-menopausal women.

METHODS:

We compared 35 patients with polycystic ovary syndrome and 28 healthy women, paired for BMI, prevalence of obesity and smoking. Measurements included serum inflammatory markers, BMI, waist-to-hip ratio, blood pressure, serum glucose, insulin, lipid and hormone concentrations, and insulin sensitivity index.

RESULTS:

The insulin sensitivity index was reduced in polycystic ovary syndrome patients compared with controls. However, no differences were observed between both groups in C-reactive protein, interleukin 6, tumour necrosis factor-alpha, soluble type 2 tumour necrosis factor receptor, and soluble intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1. When considering patients and controls as a whole, C-reactive protein and interleukin 6, were increased in obese subjects compared with lean women. Inverse correlations existed between insulin sensitivity index and C-reactive protein, interleukin 6, tumour necrosis factor-alpha, soluble type 2 tumour necrosis factor receptor, and soluble intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1. Only the weak correlation with C-reactive protein persisted after controlling for BMI.

CONCLUSION/INTERPRETATION:

Obesity, and not insulin resistance, is the major determinant of serum inflammatory cardiovascular risk markers in pre-menopausal women.

• Authors: H F Escobar-Morreale, G Villuendas, J I Botella-Carretero, J Sancho, J L San Millán
• Journal: Diabetologia (Diabetologia) Vol. 46 Issue 5 Pg. 625-33 (May 2003) ISSN: 0012-186X [Print] Germany
• PMID: 12739017 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antigens, CD
• Biomarkers
• Interleukin-6
• Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor
• Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type II
• Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
• Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1
• C-Reactive Protein

Topics

• Adult
• Antigens, CD (blood)
• Biomarkers (blood)
• Body Mass Index
• C-Reactive Protein (analysis)
• Cardiovascular Diseases (blood, epidemiology)
• Female
• Humans
• Hyperandrogenism (complications)
• Inflammation
• Insulin Resistance (physiology)
• Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 (blood)
• Interleukin-6 (blood)
• Obesity (epidemiology)
• Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (complications, physiopathology)
• Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor (blood)
• Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type II
• Reference Values
• Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (analysis)