Effect of fat distribution on endothelial-dependent and endothelial-independent vasodilatation in healthy humans.
OBJECTIVE
The present study aims to explore the relationship between inflammatory cytokines, plasma lipids, insulin, blood pressure (BP), total adiposity/markers of fat distribution and endothelial function in healthy people across a wide range of body fatness.


METHODS
Seventy-three healthy people (44 women; age range: 24-64 years) with body mass index (BMI) range of 18.6-73.1 kg/m2 were recruited. All participants underwent assessment of conduit artery endothelial-dependent vasodilatation by using flow-mediated vasodilatation (FMD) of the brachial artery and endothelial-independent vasodilatation to sublingual GTN. They had blood taken for measurement of plasma markers of glucose homeostasis (fasting insulin and glucose), systemic inflammation (interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein (CRP) and tumour necrosis factor-alpha receptor 2 (TNF-alpha R2)) and lipids (low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and triglycerides). Morphometric assessment (waist circumference, BMI and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR)) and systolic and diastolic arterial pressure were also measured.


RESULTS
Markers of total body fat/fat distribution (waist circumference, BMI and WHR), inflammation (IL-6, CRP and TNF-alpha R2), metabolism (fasting insulin, HDL, LDL and triglycerides) and BP (systolic and diastolic) correlated with FMD. Among these measurements, WHR was the only independent predictor of FMD (r2 = 0.30; p = 0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
WHR is an important marker of endothelial dysfunction in healthy people across a wide range of body fatness.
Williams
I L
IL
Cardiovascular Division, King's College, London, UK.
Chowienczyk
P J
PJ
Wheatcroft
S B
SB
Patel
A
A
Sherwood
R
R
Momin
A
A
Shah
A M
AM
Kearney
M T
MT
D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D050218:Body Fat Distribution; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000502:physiology*; D049629:Waist-Hip Ratio
D001786:Blood Glucose; D016207:Cytokines; D007328:Insulin; D008055:Lipids