Serum interleukin-10 and interleukin-6 levels in obese women with metabolic syndrome

Obesity, especially visceral obesity, may play a role in the pathophysiology of the metabolic syndrome, and is clearly linked to insulin resistance and increased risk for developing cardiovascular diseases. The metabolic syndrome is characterized by the occurrence of visceral obesity, dyslipidemia [especially high levels of triglycerides and low levels of high density lipoprotein cholesterol], hyperglycemia and hypertension. Although circulating levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines as interleukin-6 [IL-6] and tumor necrosis factor-alpha [TNF-alpha] as well as other markers of inflammation as C-reactive protein [CRP] have been shown to be elevated in obesity, nothing is known about the role of anti-inflammatory cytokines. So, this study was conducted to determine interleukin-10 [IL-10] levels in obese women with or without metabolic syndrome. This study included 3 groups of women, 20 obese women without metabolic syndrome, 20 obese women with metabolic syndrome and 15 normal lean women as a control group. The study showed that CRP levels were significantly elevated in obese women with metabolic syndrome compared with those without metabolic syndrome, and also CRP levels were significantly elevated in obese women with or without metabolic syndrome compared with lean women. IL-6 levels were significantly increased in obese women compared with lean subjects but no significant difference was found between obese women with or without metabolic syndrome. IL-10 levels were significantly increased in obese women with or without metabolic syndrome compared with lean women. Moreover, IL-10 levels were significantly lower in obese women with metabolic syndrome compared with obese women without metabolic syndrome

Thyroid functions in obese type 2 diabetes mellitus

Type 1 diabetes mellitus may be associated with autoimmune thyroid diseases like Grave's disease and Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Type 2 diabetes mellitus is usually associated with obesity and other features of the metabolic syndrome like hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and insulin and leptin resistance. It is reported that high body mass index is associated with decrease total and free thyroxine levels and increased thyroid stimulating hormone. Some reports found that leptin is needed to maintain thyrotropin regulating hormone expression in the hypothalamus. This stimulatory effect of leptin on thyroid hormones production may be blunted in obese diabetics due to leptin resistance seen in these patients. The aim of this work was to study thyroid functions in obese type 2 diabetes mellitus and to find out any relation between thyroid hormones and leptin. This study included 4 groups of subjects, aging from 35 to 60 years. The first group included 10 healthy lean subjects as a control group. The second group included 20 obese non diabetic subjects. The third group included 20 obese diabetic patients and the fourth group included 20 lean diabetic patients. This study showed significant decreased free triiodothyronine and free thyroxine levels in obese subjects [diabetic and non diabetic] [p < 0.05]. Also thyroid stimulating hormone levels were significantly higher in obese subjects [diabetic and non diabetic] compared to the control persons [p < 0.05]. Thyroid stimulating hormone levels were significantly elevated in obese diabetic compared to lean diabetics [p < 0.05]. Significantly elevated leptin and insulin levels were found in obese subjects [diabetics and non diabetics], who have decreased thyroid hormones levels compared to lean subjects. Significant negative correlations were found between free triiodothyroniue or free thyroxine and body mass index, age, insulin and leptin