title: Association Between Low-Grade Systemic Inflammation and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Among Men and Women from the ATTICA Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the relationship between low-grade inflammation and several glycemic indices in a population-based sample of men and women.
  
  
  METHODS
  The ATTICA study is a population-based cohort that randomly enrolled 1514 men and 1528 women (aged >18 years old), stratified by age and gender, from the Greater Athens area, during 2001-2002. Among several characteristics, inflammation markers (high sensitivity C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, homocysteine and amyloid A) and glycemic control indices (fasting blood glucose, insulin, HOMA) were measured in the participants.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of diabetes was 7.8% in men and 6.0% in women. The prevalence of impaired fasting glucose (IFG) was 21% in men and 12% in women. Diabetic subjects had 57% higher mean levels of C-reactive protein (p < 0.001), 22% higher mean levels of interleukin-6 (p < 0.001) and 60% higher levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (p < 0.001) compared to non-diabetic subjects. Homocysteine and serum amyloid A levels did not show significant differences among groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study supports a positive association between low-grade inflammation and diabetes in a population-based sample of men and women without any evidence of cardiovascular disease, which is independent of demographic, clinical and lifestyle characteristics, including physical activity and dietary factors.
authors.affiliation: First Cardiology Clinic, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pitsavos
authors.forename: Metaxia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tampourlou
authors.forename: Demosthenes B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Panagiotakos
authors.forename: Yannis
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Skoumas
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chrysohoou
authors.forename: Tzortzis
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nomikos
authors.forename: Christodoulos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stefanadis