title: Gender-specific associations between insulin resistance, hypertension, and markers of inflammation among adult Saudis with and without diabetes mellitus type 2.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In view of the important roles of the pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and the acute phase reactant C-reactive protein (CRP) in glucose metabolism and pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus type 2 (DMT2), we assessed gender-specific differences and relative associations of these inflammatory biomarkers to insulin resistance (IR) and risk markers for DMT2.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and CRP were determined in 119 clinically diagnosed DMT2 cases, 114 non-DMT2 subjects with IR, and 97 age-matched controls. Fasting blood samples were collected and serum glucose levels, lipid profile, and inflammatory markers were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In women, a significant association between elevated levels of IL-6 and risk of developing IR [Odds ratio (OR), 4.389, 95 % Confidence Interval (CI) 1.6-11.52, p = 0.004] was found. Significant associations were also found between elevated levels of CRP and risk of hypertension only in female subjects [OR (95% CI) 2.153 (1.04-4.53), p = 0.046]. While, in male subjects, a significant association between elevated levels of TNF-α and risk of developing IR [OR (95% CI) 2.32 (1.09-4.93), p = 0.029] was found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study showed apparent gender differences in the association of IL-6, CRP, and TNF-a with risks of IR and hypertension, and this could be attributed to sexual dimorphism in fat distribution.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. aldaghri2000@hotmail.com
authors.forename: N M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Al-Daghri
authors.forename: O S
authors.initials: OS
authors.lastname: Al-Attas
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Alokail
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Alkharfy
authors.forename: N A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Shaik
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Draz
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bamakhramah
authors.forename: S L B
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Sabico
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012529:Saudi Arabia / Q000453:epidemiology; D012737:Sex Factors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D002097:C-Reactive Protein