Inflammatory mediators in overweight and obese Spanish adolescents. The AVENA Study.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to clarify if there is an association between overweight and a state of chronic, low-grade inflammation in adolescents.


METHODS
The study is a part of the cross-sectional multicenter study AVENA, designed to evaluate the nutritional status of a representative sample of Spanish adolescents. The adolescents were divided into two groups: (1) nonoverweight and (2) overweight/obesity using the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) standards.


METHODS
A geographically representative subsample of the AVENA study including 493 Spanish adolescents, aged 13-18 y (236 females/257 males), participated in this study.


METHODS
Serum C-reactive protein (CRP) and in vitro production of interleukin 6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha were measured, together with a detailed anthropometry.


RESULTS
The inflammatory markers showed generally higher values in subjects with overweight/obesity than in those with nonoverweight, with only CRP showing significant differences (the means were 0.83 and 1.27 mg/l in the nonoverweight and overweight/obesity groups, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Although we have not studied if adolescent overweight and obesity play an initiating role in the development of future diseases, we suggest it may induce a chronic low-grade inflammatory state, which points out the importance of maintaining an appropriate body weight, to avoid obesity-related diseases in adulthood.
Wärnberg
J
J
Immunonutrition Research Group, Department of Metabolism and Nutrition, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Madrid, Spain.
Moreno
L A
LA
Mesana
M I
MI
Marcos
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000032:analysis; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D013030:Spain; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis
D015415:Biomarkers; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D002097:C-Reactive Protein