title: Contribution of gender and body fat distribution to inflammatory marker concentrations in apparently healthy young adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This cross-sectional study assessed the potential contribution of gender, body fat distribution, and their interactions to some inflammatory marker concentrations [C-reactive protein (CRP), complement factor 3 (C3), and ceruloplasmin (Cp)] in young adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  Measurements included body composition, lifestyle features, blood biochemical and selected inflammatory markers on 317 healthy subjects [122 males/195 females; 22 ± 3 years; 22.1 ± 2.8 kg/m(2) (mean ± SD)].
  
  
  RESULTS
  Women had significantly higher CRP and Cp concentrations than men. No gender difference was noted in C3 concentrations. In a multivariate model of the whole sample, body fat (BF), waist circumference (WC) and the sex × WC interaction term presented the highest R                            (2) for variance of CRP (11%), C3 (2%), and Cp (12%), respectively. In regression models separated by sex, BF was the adiposity indicator that explained the variability of CRP in men (13%) and women (7%). WC was the only variable significantly associated with C3 concentrations in women (3%). BF presented the highest partial R                            (2) for Cp in men (8%) and WC in women (16%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings indicate a relevant interaction between gender and body fat distribution on the variance of CRP, C3, and Cp concentrations in apparently healthy young adults.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, Food Science, Physiology and Toxicology, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.
authors.forename: Helen Hermana M
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Hermsdorff
authors.forename: Ana Carolina P
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Volp
authors.forename: Blanca
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Puchau
authors.forename: Kiriaque B F
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Barbosa
authors.forename: M Angeles
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Zulet
authors.forename: Josefina
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bressan
authors.forename: J Alfredo
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Martínez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D050218:Body Fat Distribution; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D002570:Ceruloplasmin / Q000032:analysis*; D003176:Complement C3 / Q000032:analysis*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012737:Sex Factors; D049629:Waist-Hip Ratio; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D003176:Complement C3; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D002570:Ceruloplasmin