title: Plasma interleukin-6 levels, glutathione peroxidase and isoprostane in obese women before and after weight loss. Association with cardiovascular risk factors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the levels of Interleukin-6 (IL-6), glutathione peroxidase and isoprostane in obese women and their association with markers of cardiovascular risk factors before and after weight loss.
  
  
  METHODS
  36 healthy obese women of reproductive age (group A: age (mean+/-SD) 35.4+/-9.2 years, Body Mass Index (BMI) 38.5+/-7 kg/m2) and 30 healthy, normal weight women (group B: age mean+/-SD 34.9+/-7.4 y., BMI 24+/-1.1 kg/m2) were included in the study. Glucose tolerance was normal in all participating women. Il-6, glutathione peroxidase and isoprostane, C-Reactive Protein (CRP), insulin, fasting plasma glucose, HOMA-IR as well as the lipid profile were evaluated. Body weight, BMI, Waist to Hip ratio (W/H) ratio, Waist Circumference (WC), %free fat mass and the %fat mass were also measured. A hypo-caloric diet was prescribed for the obese women and all participants were re-examined after six months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In obese women after weight loss, anthropometric obesity markers (BMI, W/H ratio), %fat, lipid profile, insulin levels and inflammation indices such as IL-6 and CRP, the oxidative stress index isoprostane, as well as glutathione peroxidase were significantly ameliorated. The levels of serum glutathione peroxidase activity were negatively correlated with IL-6 levels and were significantly increased after weight reduction. In obese women there was an association between IL-6 levels and the values of %fat, %free fat mass, insulin and HOMA-IR before and after weight loss.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Weight loss is related to reduction of oxidative stress and inflammation; this beneficial effect could possibly be translated into reduction of cardiovascular risk in obese individuals.
authors.affiliation: Biochemistry Department, Aristotele University Medical School, Thessaloniki, Greece. mariabougoulia@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bougoulia
authors.forename: Athanassios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Triantos
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Koliakos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D028421:Isoprostanes / Q000097:blood*; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000178:diet therapy*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D049629:Waist-Hip Ratio; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D007328:Insulin; D015850:Interleukin-6; D028421:Isoprostanes; D014280:Triglycerides; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D002784:Cholesterol; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase