title: Sex differences in the association of adiponectin and low-grade inflammation with changes in the body mass index from youth to middle age.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There are sex differences in low-grade inflammation markers in obesity-related disorders. Little is known, however, about a possible sex-specific association of relative weight change from youth to adulthood with actual low-grade inflammation.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to identify possible sex differences in adiponectin, interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-1Ra (IL-1Ra), and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels with respect to the relative change in body mass index (BMI) from youth to middle age.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study population consisted of 403 men and 500 women from 1 Finnish town. Weight, height, and adiponectin, IL-1β, IL-1Ra, and hs-CRP levels were measured in 2003 at a mean age of 46 years. Self-reported weight at the age of 20 years was recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In women, even after adjustment for BMI in adulthood, a statistically significantly negative linear association was observed between the quartiles of relative change in BMI and adiponectin levels (P < 0.001 for linearity). Significantly positive linear associations were also observed between the change in BMI and IL-1Ra (P = 0.032 for linearity) and hs-CRP (P = 0.029 for linearity) levels. In men, there was no statistically significant association among the quartiles of relative change in BMI and measured inflammatory markers after adjustment for BMI in adulthood.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A relative increase in weight may be more harmful in women than in men with respect to adiponectin and inflammatory markers.
authors.affiliation: Central Finland Regional Health Centre, Jyväskylä, Finland. tiina.ahonen@fimnet.fi
authors.forename: Tiina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ahonen
authors.forename: Mauno
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vanhala
authors.forename: Hannu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kautiainen
authors.forename: Esko
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kumpusalo
authors.forename: Juha
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Saltevo
mesh_terms: D052242:Adiponectin / Q000097:blood*; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood*; D053590:Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein / Q000097:blood*; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology; D012737:Sex Factors; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D052242:Adiponectin; D015415:Biomarkers; D053590:Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D002097:C-Reactive Protein