Tumor necrosis factor-alpha and involuntary weight loss in elderly, community-dwelling adults.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the association between involuntary weight loss and serum concentrations of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha in elderly, community-dwelling adults.


METHODS
Cross-sectional, single-time point investigation.


METHODS
Two primary care ambulatory clinics.


METHODS
Ambulatory adults aged 70 years or older with involuntary weight loss of 2.27 kg (5 lbs) or more, or with stable weight (+/-0.91 kg [2 lbs]) for the 3 months before enrollment.


RESULTS
Ten subjects with weight loss (mean+/-SD-4.9+/-2.6 kg) and 25 subjects with stable weight (+0.06+/-0.55 kg) were enrolled. The latter group was recruited to serve as a comparison group to the weight-loss group. Subjects donated a venous blood sample and were administered the Mini Nutritional Assessment at a single clinic visit. Serum concentrations of TNF-alpha were measured by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The TNF-alpha concentrations were significantly higher in subjects with weight loss (mean+/-SD 19.3+/-24.9 pg/ml) than in subjects with stable weight (mean+/-SD 1.1+/-2.0 pg/ml, p<0.01). No relationship was found between the TNF-alpha concentration and the degree of weight loss expressed as a percentage of total body weight.


CONCLUSIONS
Older adults with involuntary weight loss had increased circulating concentrations of TNF-alpha. Whether TNF-alpha plays a causal role in involuntary weight loss among older adults is unclear; however, this finding is consistent with those in other disease states associated with cachexia. Further research is necessary to clarify this relationship and to determine if pharmacotherapeutic interventions targeted at TNF-alpha can prevent or reverse involuntary weight loss and its associated morbidity and mortality.
Ruscin
J Mark
JM
School of Pharmacy, the Center on Aging, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, Colorado 80262, USA. mark.ruscin@uchsc.edu
Page
Robert L
RL
Yeager
Bryan F
BF
Wallace
Jeffrey I
JI
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism*; D015431:Weight Loss
D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha