Visfatin, resistin, hsCRP and insulin resistance in relation to abdominal obesity in women with rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVES: The increasing incidence of overweight and obesity in modern societies, and the demonstration that adipose tissue produces numerous cytokines, increases interest of investigators in the associations between adipose tissue, adipokines, CRP and insulin resistance in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and their possible role in the pathogenesis of this disease.The purpose of the study was to investigate serum levels of visfatin, resistin, hsCRP and insulin resistance in relation to abdominal obesity in patients with RA. METHODS: Serum levels of visfatin, resistin, hsCRP and glucose metabolism parameters were measured in 46 women with RA - 22 without abdominal obesity and 24 with abdominal obesity. RESULTS: Patients with RA and abdominal obesity showed significant lower visfatin levels (1.00+/-0.93 vs. 1.44+/-0.85 ng/ml; p<0.05) in comparison to those without abdominal obesity. We found significant correlations between levels of visfatin and resistin (r=0.41; p<0.01); and between resistin levels and hsCRP levels (r=0.41; p<0.01); resistin levels and leucocytes count (r=0.36; p<0.05); and resistin levels and ESR (r=0.30; p<0.05), in the whole investigated group. Visfatin as well as resistin did not correlate with anthropometric parameters or insulin resistance in whole patients with RA. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with RA and abdominal obesity, in comparison to patients without abdominal obesity, significantly lower visfatin levels have been demonstrated. Resistin was associated with laboratory markers of inflammation. Positive correlation between levels of visfatin and resistin may suggest that visfatin plays a role in inflammation in RA.

Insulin resistance and glucose tolerance in obese women: the effects of a recreational training program.

AIM: This study was designed to investigate whether recreational physical activity based on aquatic training may improve lipid profile and glucose tolerance in obese subjects. Additionally, we intended to assess a possible correlation between insulin resistance index HOMA(IR) with another index including serum adiponectin concentrations. METHODS: Study population consisted of 12 obese women aged 44-61, who volunteered for an aquatic training 1 h twice a week for 3 months. Before entering the training program, and after completing it patients' oral glucose tolerance test was performed. Glucose, insulin and adiponectin concentrations, levels of antibodies to oxidatively modified low-density lipoproteins (oLAB), and lipid profiles were measured in blood samples collected before the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Glucose and insulin concentrations were also assessed in blood samples collected at 30 and 120 min of OGTT. Atherogenic index of plasma (AIP), and insulin sensitivity indexes HOMA(IR) and HOMA(AD) were calculated on the basis of the obtained data. RESULTS: The 3-month, recreational aquatic training had no influence on body mass, but it resulted in improved glucose tolerance (at t = 0 and t = 120 min), decreased index (HOMA(IR)), and decreased levels of total and LDL-cholesterol (P<0.05). Adiponectin concentrations and values of HOMA(AD) remained unchanged. We found a significant correlation between adiponectin levels and concentrations of total and LDL cholesterol, and between insulin indexes HOMA(IR) and HOMA(AD) both before, and after the training (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: The results of our study indicate that a 3-month recreational training consisting in water aerobic results in favorable changes in glucose and lipid metabolism in obese subjects, even despite the lack of improvement in body mass.