Inflammation and race and gender differences in computerized tomography-measured adipose depots - PubMed (original) (raw)

doi: 10.1038/oby.2008.627. Epub 2009 Jan 22.

Annemarie Koster, Anne B Newman, M Kassim Javaid, Luigi Ferrucci, Stephen B Kritchevsky, Lewis H Kuller, Marco Pahor, Laura A Schaap, Marjolein Visser, Susan M Rubin, Bret H Goodpaster, Tamara B Harris; Health ABC study

Affiliations

Inflammation and race and gender differences in computerized tomography-measured adipose depots

Lydia E Beasley et al. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2009 May.

Abstract

A growing body of evidence has consistently shown a correlation between obesity and chronic subclinical inflammation. It is unclear whether the size of specific adipose depots is more closely associated with concentrations of inflammatory markers than overall adiposity. This study investigated the relationship between inflammatory markers and computerized tomography-derived abdominal visceral and subcutaneous fat and thigh intermuscular and subcutaneous fat in older white and black adults. Data were from 2,651 black and white men and women aged 70-79 years participating in the Health, Aging, and Body Composition (Health ABC) study. Inflammatory markers, interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein (CRP), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) were obtained from serum samples. Abdominal visceral and subcutaneous fat and thigh intermuscular and subcutaneous fat were quantified on computerized tomography images. Linear regression analysis was used to evaluate the cross-sectional relationship between specific adipose depots and inflammatory markers in four race/gender groups. As expected, blacks have less visceral fat than whites and women less visceral fat than men. However, abdominal visceral adiposity was most consistently associated with significantly higher IL-6 and CRP concentrations in all race/gender groups (P < 0.05), even after controlling for general adiposity. Thigh intermuscular fat had an inconsistent but significant association with inflammation, and there was a trend toward lower inflammatory marker concentration with increasing thigh subcutaneous fat in white and black women. Despite the previously established differences in abdominal fat distribution across gender and race, visceral fat remained a significant predictor of inflammatory marker concentration across all four subgroups examined.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1

Figure 1

Standardized regression coefficients of inflammatory markers according to both abdominal visceral and subcutaneous fat† * Significant at p < 0.05 level † Model included both visceral and subcutaneous fat and adjusted for clinic site, age, BMI, marital status, education level, pack years, serious medical conditions, anti-inflammatory medications, oral steroids, and physical activity

Figure 2

Figure 2

Standardized regression coefficients of inflammatory markers according to both thigh intermuscular and subcutaneous fat† * Significant at p < 0.05 level † Model included both intermuscular and subcutaneous fat and adjusted for clinic site, age, BMI, marital status, education level, pack years, serious medical conditions, anti-inflammatory medications, oral steroids, and physical activity

Similar articles

Cited by

References

    1. Malavazos AE, Corsi MM, Ermetici F, et al. Proinflammatory cytokines and cardiac abnormalities in uncomplicated obesity: relationship with abdominal fat deposition. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2007;17:294–302. - PubMed
    1. Ziccardi P, Nappo F, Giugliano G, et al. Reduction of inflammatory cytokine concentrations and improvement of endothelial functions in obese women after weight loss over one year. Circulation. 2002;105:804–9. - PubMed
    1. Hotamisligil GS, Shargill NS, Spiegelman BM. Adipose expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha: direct role in obesity-linked insulin resistance. Science. 1993;259:87–91. - PubMed
    1. Mohamed-Ali V, Goodrick S, Rawesh A, et al. Subcutaneous adipose tissue releases interleukin-6, but not tumor necrosis factor-alpha, in vivo. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1997;82:4196–200. - PubMed
    1. Kelly RA, Smith TW. Cytokines and cardiac contractile function. Circulation. 1997;95:778–81. - PubMed

Publication types

MeSH terms

Substances

Grants and funding

LinkOut - more resources