Body composition markers from classic anthropometry, bioelectrical impedance analysis, and magnetic resonance imaging are associated with inflammatory markers in the general population.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The associations of body composition markers derived from different modalities with inflammatory markers are unclear. The aim of this study was to determine associations of the body composition markers from different modalities with inflammatory markers in a population-based study. METHODS AND RESULTS: We analyzed data from 4048 participants (2081 women, 51.4%) aged 20-84 years. Linear regression models adjusted for confounding were used to analyze the association of classic anthropometry markers, absolute and relative fat mass, absolute fat-free mass (FFM), and body cell mass (BCM) assessed by bioelectrical impedance analysis, subcutaneous, visceral, and liver fat from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), with markers of inflammation. We found positive associations of classic anthropometry markers, total body fat, subcutaneous, visceral, and liver fat, with all inflammatory markers. Waist circumference (WC) showed the strongest association with high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) (ß: 1.39; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.22 to 1.56) and white blood cell (WBC) (0.39; 0.29 to 0.48), whereas visceral fat showed the strongest association with ferritin (41.9; 34.7 to 49.0). Relative body fat was strongly associated with hsCRP (1.39; 1.20 to 1.58), fibrinogen (0.29; 0.27 to 0.32), and WBC (0.35; 0.25 to 0.46). Conversely, we found inverse associations of body height, FFM, and BCM with hsCRP, fibrinogen, and WBC. CONCLUSIONS: Our study indicates the importance of WC as an easily measured marker for early inflammation. MRI-assessed markers of central obesity seem to be most strongly related to ferritin.

Sex-specific associations of cardiorespiratory fitness and galectin-3 in the general population.

AIMS: Low cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is associated with greater mortality and morbidity. Galectin-3 (Gal-3) is a prognostic biomarker for fibrosis and heart failure. Gal-3 is also associated with a greater risk for cardiovascular mortality. Whether CRF is related with Gal-3 is unclear. The objective of this study was to assess the sex-specific associations of CRF and Gal-3 levels in the general population. METHODS: Gal-3 concentrations were determined using a sandwich enzyme immunoassay in the population-based Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP-TREND-0). Sex-stratified linear regression models adjusted for age, current smoking status, and renal function were used. Individuals with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) <40%, previous myocardial infarction, atrial fibrillation, chronic lung disease, severe renal disease (estimated glomerular filtration rate <30 mL/min/mm2 ), a history of cancer, and extreme values for Gal-3 (<1st percentile; >99th percentile) were excluded. RESULTS: A total of n = 1515 participants with a median age of 49 (IQR: 39-60 years, 48% males) were included. In men, a 1 L/min greater VO2 peak was significantly related to 0.50 ng/mL (95% CI -0.8068 to -0.1938, P < 0.01) less Gal-3. In males, a 1 mL/min/kg higher VO2 peak adjusted for body weight was associated with -0.0286 ng/mL (95% CI -0.0052 to -0.0005, P = 0.02) less Gal-3. When VO2 peak was adjusted for lean mass 1 mL/kg/min more was correlated with a -0.0022 ng/mL (95% CI -0.0043 to -0.0007, P = 0.04) less Gal-3. In women, VO2 peak (ß -0.2046 95% CI -0.6541 to 0.2449, P = 0.37) and VO2 peak adjusted for lean mass (ß -0.0019 95% CI -0.0421 to -0.0050, P = 0.12) were not related with Gal-3, whereas a 1 mL/min/kg higher VO2 peak adjusted for body weight was significantly associated with a -0.0064 ng/mL lower Gal-3 (95% CI -0.0092 to -0.0035, P < 0.01). There were no differences between pre-menopausal and post-menopausal women. CONCLUSIONS: VO2 peak was associated with Gal-3 only in men, but VO2 peak adjusted for body weight in women and men. Our results suggest that the adverse consequences of low CRF may be mediated by Gal-3. Further research is needed to understand the sex-specific association between CRF and Gal-3 and whether they are clinically relevant.

Association between hepatic iron overload assessed by magnetic resonance imaging and glucose intolerance states in the general population.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: While there is evidence that iron overload disorders are associated with type 2 diabetes, the relationship between hepatic iron overload and prediabetes remains unclear. We aimed to investigate the association between hepatic iron overload, as assessed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and different glucose intolerance states in the population-based Study. METHODS AND RESULTS: We included data from 1622 individuals with MRI data, who did not have known type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Using an oral glucose tolerance testing, participants were classified as having isolated impaired fasting glucose (i-IFG), isolated impaired glucose tolerance (i-IGT), combined IFG and IGT (IFG + IGT) or previously unknown T2DM. Hepatic iron and fat contents were assessed through quantitative MRI. We undertook linear and multinomial logistic regression models adjusted for potential confounders and MRI-assessed hepatic fat content to examine the association of hepatic iron overload with different glucose intolerance states or continuous markers of glucose metabolism. MRI-assessed hepatic iron overload was positively associated only with both 2-h plasma glucose (ß = 0.32; 95%CI 0.04-0.60) and the combined IFG + IGT category (relative risk ratio = 1.87; 95%CI 1.15-3.06). No significant associations were found between hepatic iron overload and other glucose intolerance states or biomarkers of glucose metabolism, independently of potential confounders. CONCLUSIONS: MRI-assessed hepatic iron overload was associated with higher 2-h glucose concentrations and the combined IFG + IGT category, but not with other glucose intolerance states. Our findings suggest a weak adverse impact of hepatic iron overload on glucose metabolism, but further studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Psoriasis is associated with increased intima-media thickness--the Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP).

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis has been associated with cardiovascular diseases, but its relationship to markers of subclinical atherosclerosis has not been fully elucidated. The aim of the study is to analyze the association of psoriasis with common carotid artery intima-media thickness (CCA-IMT) and plaque prevalence of the carotid arteries. METHODS: Data of 1987 men and women aged 25-88 years from the population-based Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP) in north-eastern Germany were used. Cross-sectional associations of psoriasis with IMT and carotid plaque prevalence were analyzed using linear and logistic regression models adjusted for relevant confounders (age, sex, smoking, alcohol consumption, waist circumference, physical activity, systolic blood pressure, anti-hypertensive medication, acetylsalicylic acid, HbA(1c), total/HDL cholesterol ratio, lipid-lowering medication). RESULTS: Psoriasis was associated with mean CCA-IMT, but not with carotid plaque prevalence. Comparisons between subjects with and without psoriasis showed an adjusted mean difference of the CCA-IMT of 0.016 mm (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.004 mm-0.028 mm, p < 0.01) and an odds ratio for plaque prevalence of 1.12 (95% CI: 0.85-1.47) after adjusting for confounders. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that psoriasis is associated with increased carotid mean IMT and might therefore contribute to the atherosclerotic process and subsequent cardiovascular events.