C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels in overweight and healthy adults.

This study aimed to 1) compare levels of high sensitivity c-reactive protein (hs-CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) between overweight Thais and apparently healthy controls, and 2) investigate the association between serum hs-CRP, IL-6, and TNF-alpha levels and other biochemical parameters. A total of 180 health-conscious adults aged 25-60 years, who resided in Bangkok, participated in this study. No significant difference was found in age and sex between the overweight subjects and controls. Serum levels of hs-CRP, IL-6, TNF-alpha, glucose, lipid profile, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC) and waist hip ratio (WHR) were determined in these volunteers. The mean levels of white blood cells (WBC), uric acid, total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), and hs-CRP were significantly higher in the overweight subjects than those in the controls, whereas high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) values were significantly higher in the controls than the overweight subjects (p < 0.05). Hs-CRP levels were significantly positively correlated with levels of TG, BMI, WC, HC and WHR. HDL-C levels were significantly negative correlated with hs-CRP levels. In conclusion, the prevalence of elevated serum hs-CRP levels was higher in overweight subjects than controls. However, more data in larger and other population groups are needed to confirm this study.

Leptin concentration in relation to body mass index (BMI) and hematological measurements in Thai obese and overweight subjects.

The weight, height and body mass index (BMI), including waist/hip ratio, serum leptin and hematological parameters of 48 male and 166 female overweight (BMI > or = 25.00) Thai volunteers who came for a physical check-up at the Out-patient Department, General Practice Section, Rajvithi Hospital, Bangkok during the period March-October 1998, were investigated. There were statistically significantly higher levels of serum leptin, mean corpuscular mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) in the overweight than in the control subjects. The median serum leptin concentration in overweight subjects was 19.6 (2.0-60.0 ng/ml) compared with 9.0 (range 1.0-30.0 ng/ml) in the control subjects (p < 0.001). The medians of leptin in overweight and obese males were significantly higher than those of overweight and obese females. 66.7% (32 out of 48) of overweight and obese males were found to have elevated leptin levels, while 87.3% (145 out of 166) were found in overweight and obese females. Anemia was found in 18.7% of female overweight and obese subjects, using hemoglobin as an indicator. Significant associations were found between weight, height, BMI, waist, hip, waist/hip ratio, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and serum leptin in both male and female overweight subjects. A negative correlation was found between serum leptin and hemoglobin, and hematocrit in both overweight and obese subjects.

Erythrocyte antioxidant enzymes and blood pressure in relation to overweight and obese Thai in Bangkok.

The specific activities of antioxidant enzymes, [eg superoxide dismutases (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and catalase (CAT)], anthropometric measurements, including waist/hip ratio of 48 male and 167 female overweight persons (body mass index (BMI) > or = 25.0 kg/m2) compared with a 26 male and 80 female control group (BMI = 18.5-24.9 kg/m2) of Thai volunteers who attended the Out-patient Department, General Practice Section, Rajvithi Hospital, Bangkok, for a physical check-up during March-October, 1998, were investigated. There was a slightly significant difference between the median age of the sexes. The medians of height, weight, and waist/hip ratio in males were significantly higher than those in female overweight and obese subjects. The median of arm circumference (AC), mid arm muscle circumference (MAMC) in males was significantly higher than those in female overweight and obese subjects (p < 0.05). The prevalences of hypertension based on systolic and diastolic blood pressure of > or = 160/> or = 95 mmHg, were 8.3% and 37.5% for males and 5.4% and 18.6% for females, respectively. There was no significant difference between the median of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, GPX and CAT) between the sexes. No significant differences in the antioxidant enzymes in male overweight/obese persons and normal controls were presented, whereas antioxidant enzymes in female overweight/obese persons were statistically lower than in control females (p < 0.05). A significantly higher SOD, GPX, and CAT status was observed in normal subjects compared with overweight/obese subjects (p < 0.01). A higher prevalence of SOD < or = 2,866 U/gHb, GPX (< or = 15.96 U/gHb in females was found, compared with males. A high percentage of lower catalase (CAT < or = 19.2x10(4) IU/gHb) was found in both sexes (64.5% in males and 64.5% in females). In obese subjects (BMI > or = 30.0 kg/m2), there were significantly positive relationships between systolic and diastolic blood pressure, systolic blood pressure and waist/hip ratio, and SOD could be related to weight, BMI as well as GPX and CAT, whereas the opposite result was observed for age and SOD.