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

Objective: To assess the associations between obesity markers (BMI, waist circumference and %body fat) and inflammatory markers (interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta); interleukin-6 (IL-6); tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) 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-1 beta levels between participants with increased obesity markers and healthy counterparts; multivariate regression showed %body fat to be negatively associated with IL-1 beta. 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-alpha levels, and positive associations were found between TNF- levels and waist circumference in men and between TNF- 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-1 beta; BMI (in women) and waist circumference (in men) are associated with TNF-alpha; all obesity markers are positively associated with hs-CRP. Copyright (C) 2012 S. Karger GmbH, Freiburg