Abdominal obesity in relation to inflammatory markers and insulin resistance in obese Egyptian Females

Abdominal fat is known to release various inflammatory and anti inflammatory cytokines leading to development of insulin resistance (IR). However, the relationship between them has scarcely been reported in Egyptian obese women. To determine associations between abdominal obesity, measures of obesity, inflammatory markers and IR among obese women. A cross-sectional study comprising 200 obese women between ages of 18 to 35 years were classified according to waist circumference (WC) into two groups: abdominal obese group with WC >= 85 cm and non-abdominal obese group WC < 85 cm. Serum IL-1 beta, CRP and adiponectin were measured using a commercially available ELISA kit. Insulin resistance has been estimated by the Homeostasis Model Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR). Abdominal obese group showed significant higher levels of HOMA-IR, fasting glucose, hs-CRP, IL-1 beta, BP levels, total cholesterol, triglyceride and lower adiponectin levels than non-abdominal obese group. In addition, adiposity indices including body mass index, waist to height and waist to hip ratios as well as body fat% and abdominal skin fold thickness were significantly higher in abdominal obese group. IL-1 beta and CRP showed significant positive correlations with adiposity indices; while adiponectin had inverse relations. Abdominal obesity is associated with high levels of pro inflammatory cytokines, metabolic abnormalities and low adiponectin levels. Results emphasize the role of certain pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in metabolic dysfunction in obese women with abdominal obesity.