title: Centrally located body fat is related to inflammatory markers in healthy postmenopausal women.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Human Metabolic Unit, Center for Designing Foods to Improve Nutrition, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA.
authors.forename: Courtney D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Perry
authors.forename: D Lee
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Alekel
authors.forename: Laura M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Ritland
authors.forename: Shilpa N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Bhupathiraju
authors.forename: Jeanne W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: Laura N
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Hanson
authors.forename: Oksana A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Matvienko
authors.forename: Marian L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Kohut
authors.forename: Manju B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Reddy
authors.forename: Marta D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Van Loan
authors.forename: Ulrike
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Genschel
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D005340:Fibrinogen; D002097:C-Reactive Protein