title: Chlamydia pneumoniae infection is associated with elevated body mass index in young men.
abstract: Chlamydia pneumoniae infection is said to be associated with obesity. We studied the association between C. pneumoniae infection and inflammation and increased BMI in 891 Finnish military recruits. IgG seropositivity in arrival and departure serum samples during 6-12 months of military service was considered as persistence of antibodies and a possible indication of chronic infection. Persistently high C-reactive protein (CRP) level (elevated on arrival and departure) (OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.3-3.9), and persistent C. pneumoniae antibodies (OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.5-2.8) were significant risk factors for overweight (BMI 25 kg/m2). In addition, those who had persistent antibodies and persistently elevated CRP levels, or those who had either of them, had a significantly higher BMI (kg/m2) compared to those who had neither of them (25.8 vs. 24.6 vs. 23.5, respectively; P<0.001). These results provide new information about the association between possible chronic C. pneumoniae infection and obesity in young men.
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Health and Welfare, Oulu, Finland. aino.rantala@thl.fi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rantala
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lajunen
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Juvonen
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bloigu
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Paldanius
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Silvennoinen-Kassinen
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Peitso
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Vainio
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leinonen
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Saikku
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D023521:Chlamydophila Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D016993:Chlamydophila pneumoniae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005387:Finland; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D002097:C-Reactive Protein