title: Relationship between C3 levels and common carotid intima-media thickness in overweight and obese patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The study aim was to compare C3 levels with the common carotid artery intima-media thickness (CCAIMT) in subjects of both genders, with a wide range of BMI, independently of age, gender, and abdominal obesity.
  
  
  METHODS
  140 euthyroid, mainly overweight/obese subjects (age 18-30 years) were examined. BMI, waist circumference, blood pressure, fasting insulin, glucose, lipids, C3 and C-reactive protein serum concentrations, and insulin resistance degree (estimated by homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMAIR)) were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CCA-IMT was positively (p < 0.001) correlated with BMI, waist circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressures, HOMAIR, and insulin, CRP, and C3 serum levels. The multiple linear regression analysis showed that only male gender and waist circumference maintained an independent relation with the CCA-IMT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests that central fat accumulation and male gender independently increase the thickness of the arterial wall, whereas inflammation and inflammatory markers do not have an independent effect on this parameter.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Nutrition Unit, Internal Medicine IV, Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Oncology, University of Bari, School of Medicine, Policlinico, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: De Pergola
authors.forename: Marco Matteo
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Ciccone
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Guida
authors.forename: Gaetano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Morea
authors.forename: Emanuela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Giannuzzo
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cortese
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Scicchitano
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Favale
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Silvestris
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001794:Blood Pressure; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000473:pathology; D003176:Complement C3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D056128:Obesity, Abdominal / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D012737:Sex Factors; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000473:pathology*; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000473:pathology*; D055105:Waist Circumference; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D003176:Complement C3; D007328:Insulin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein