Evaluation of the relationship between insulin resistance and plasma tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-6 and C-reactive protein levels in obese women.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the relationship between insulin resistance and tumor necrosis (TNF)-alpha, interleukin (IL)-6, C-reactive protein (CRP) in obese women.

BACKGROUND

Obesity and type 2 diabetes are associated with insulin resistance, the mechanisms of which remain poorly understood.

METHODS

Forty obese (35.8 +/- 9.6 years) and 20 non-obese women (31.1 +/- 7.7) were recruited between June 2002 and February 2003 at the Okmeydaný Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey. The obese group was equally divided into two according ?to their WHR (> 0.8 and 0.8). Subjects with blood pressure values higher than 140/90 mmHg, pathological findings on standard 12-lead EC3 and leukocytosis and glucose levels > 100 mg/dl were excluded.

RESULTS

Plasma insulin (p < 0.0001) and fasting glucose levels (p<0.0001), and HOMA values (p < 0.0001) in the obese group were higher than in the controls. Serum triglyceride and VLDL levels were higher in the obese group (p < 0.0001 in both), whereas HDL cholesterol levels were higher in the lean control group (p < 0.0001). However, no difference was observed between two groups in terms of total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol levels. The serum levels of both TNF-alpha, IL-6 and CRP were found elevated in the obese group (p < 0.05, p < 0.05, p < 0.01, respectively). In the subgroup analysis, only the HOMA values and TNF-alpha levels were found higher in the android obese group (p < 0.05 and p < 0.0001, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Insulin resistance seems to be one of the major causes of obesity-related complications due to increased secretion of TNF-alpha, IL-6 and CRP together with android obesity (Tab. 5, Ref. 33).