title: The effect of weight loss on serum concentrations of nitric oxide, TNF-alpha and soluble TNF-alpha receptors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aims of the present study were to evaluate the effect of weight-loss treatment on serum concentrations of NO and TNF-alpha and to examine whether there is an association between TNF-system activity and serum concentrations of NO after weight loss.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study group involved 43 obese women (aged 41.8 +/- 11.9 years, weight 95.2 +/- 15.0 kg, BMI 36.5 +/- 4.6 kg/m(2)). The women were subjected to three-month complex weight-loss treatment. Patients were advised to keep to a 1000-1200 kcal diet and to exercise regularly. Pharmacological treatment was not administered. Serum concentrations of nitric oxide metabolites, TNF-alpha and its soluble receptors (sTNFR1, sTNFR2) were measured by ELISA kits; insulin was measured by RIA and glucose, cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and triglicerydes by an enzymatic procedure before and after weight loss. Body composition was determined by impedance analysis using Bodystat.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean weight loss during treatment was 8.3 +/- 4.3 kg. The serum concentrations of TNF-alpha decreased significantly (p < 0.000) and both receptors sTNFR1 and sTNFR2 increased significantly (p < 0.000) after weight loss. No significant changes in serum concentrations of NO were observed after weight loss. A multiple regression analysis was performed using DeltaTNF-alpha, DeltasTNFR1, DeltaTNFR2 and DeltaNO as dependent variables. A significant correlation was observed between DNO and initial plasma concentrations of TNF-alpha, sTNFR1 and sTNFR2.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrates a decrease in serum TNF-alpha concentration as well as an increase in plasma concentration of both TNF receptors but does not show any change in serum concentrations of NO after weight-loss treatment in obese women. It seems that changes in TNF-system activity may be a counter-regulating mechanism, which inhibits further body mass loss. We did not observe any association between changes in TNF-system activity and serum concentrations of NO after weight loss.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathophysiology, Silesian Medical University, Katowice, Poland. magols@esculap.pl
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Olszanecka-Glinianowicz
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zahorska-Markiewicz
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Janowska
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D004038:Diet, Reducing; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000097:blood*; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood* / Q000178:diet therapy*; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000097:blood*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood*; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D007155:Immunologic Factors; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D009569:Nitric Oxide