Centrally located body fat is related to inflammatory markers in healthy postmenopausal women.
OBJECTIVE
C-reactive protein and fibrinogen are established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk factors. These acute-phase proteins and the proinflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-6, and interleukin-1beta may be elevated in obesity and with menopause. The purpose of this multicenter study was to identify whether centrally located fat and/or overall adiposity were related to these inflammatory markers in healthy postmenopausal women.


METHODS
We used dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry to assess overall and regional body composition (fat mass in particular) in 242 postmenopausal women in relation to plasma fibrinogen, serum C-reactive protein, and these proinflammatory cytokines.


RESULTS
Multiple regression analyses revealed that 36% of the variability in C-reactive protein (F = 32.4, P <or= 0.0001) was accounted for by androidal fat mass (16.1%, P <or= 0.0001), white blood cells (5.6%, P <or= 0.0001), and age (2.3%, P = 0.0045). Regression analyses revealed that 30% of the variability in fibrinogen (F = 24.5, P <or= 0.0001) was accounted for by white blood cells (3.1%, P = 0.0015), hip fat mass (2.2%, P = 0.0081), years since menopause (0.9%, P = 0.082), and geographic site (P <or= 0.0001). Our results indicated that androidal fat mass and hip fat mass contributed to C-reactive protein and fibrinogen, respectively, whereas we found no association between whole-body or regional fat measures and cytokines.


CONCLUSIONS
Further study is warranted to determine the responsiveness of these acute-phase proteins and cytokines to loss of body fat through exercise and dietary intervention in postmenopausal women.
Perry
Courtney D
CD
Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Human Metabolic Unit, Center for Designing Foods to Improve Nutrition, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA.
Alekel
D Lee
DL
Ritland
Laura M
LM
Bhupathiraju
Shilpa N
SN
Stewart
Jeanne W
JW
Hanson
Laura N
LN
Matvienko
Oksana A
OA
Kohut
Marian L
ML
Reddy
Manju B
MB
Van Loan
Marta D
MD
Genschel
Ulrike
U
D050153:Abdominal Fat / Q000378:metabolism*; D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D050154:Adiposity; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood*; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000097:blood; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood
D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D005340:Fibrinogen; D002097:C-Reactive Protein