Enhanced Inflammatory Status in Patients with Simple Central Obesity in Absence of Metabolic Syndrome

Introduction: Abdominal obesity is associated with cardiovascular risk factors. Metabolic Syndrome (MS) describes a constellation of metabolic abnormalities, including abdominal obesity. However, there is limited data on the comparison of inflammatory biomarkers in centrally obese subjects without MS. Aim: To examine the biomarkers of inflammation in subjects with MS, central obesity without MS, and normal controls. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study involving 501 subjects categorised into MS, central obesity without MS (COBXMS), and healthy controls (NC). Soluble biomarkers of inflammation {high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), Interleukin-6 (IL-6), Soluble Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 (sICAM-1), Soluble Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) and soluble E-selectin} were measured. Results: MS had significant elevation in all biomarkers, while COBXMS had higher concentrations of all biomarkers except sVCAM-1 compared to NC. COBXMS had elevated hs-CRP, IL-6 and sICAM-1 comparable with MS. Obesity categories of subjects (MS, COBXMS or NC) were associated with quartiles of each biomarker concentration (p