Inflammatory biomarkers and physical function in older, obese adults with knee pain and self-reported osteoarthritis after intensive weight-loss therapy.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the relationships between proinflammatory biomarkers and self-reported and performance-based physical function and to examine the effect of weight loss on these markers of inflammation.


METHODS
Randomized, longitudinal, clinical study comparing subjects eating an energy-restricted diet and participating in exercise training with a control group.


METHODS
Community-base participants for the Physical Activity, Inflammation and Body Composition Trial.


METHODS
Eighty-seven obese (body mass index (BMI) >30.0 kg/m(2)) adults aged 60 and older with knee pain and self-report of osteoarthritis.


METHODS
Inflammatory biomarkers (interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha), C-reactive protein, and soluble receptors for TNFalpha (sTNFR1 and sTNFR2)) and self-reported (Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index questionnaire) and performance-based (6-minute walk distance and stair climb time) measures of physical function at baseline and 6 months.


RESULTS
Mean (standard error of the mean) weight loss was 8.7% (0.8%) in the intervention group, compared with 0.0% (0.7%) in the control group. sTNFR1 was significantly less in the intervention group than in the control group at 6 months. sTNFR1 and sTNFR2 predicted stair climb time at baseline. Change across the 6-month intervention for sTNFR2 was an independent predictor for change in 6-minute walk distance.


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate that an intensive weight-loss intervention in older obese adults with knee pain can help improve inflammatory biomarkers and that changes in these concentrations showed associations with physical function.
Miller
Gary D
GD
Department of Health and Exercise Science, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC 27109-7868, USA. millergd@wfu.edu
Nicklas
Barbara J
BJ
Loeser
Richard F
RF
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018771:Arthralgia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011379:Prognosis; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000502:physiology*
D015415:Biomarkers; D016207:Cytokines; D002097:C-Reactive Protein