title: The metabolically healthy but obese phenotype is associated with lower plasma levels of persistent organic pollutants as compared to the metabolically abnormal obese phenotype.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although obesity is strongly linked to insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes, a subset of obese individuals termed metabolically healthy but obese (MHO) appears relatively protected from the development of cardiometabolic complications. The origins of this metabolically healthy phenotype remain unclear. Recently, persistent organic pollutants (POPs) have emerged as potential endocrine disruptors.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that the MHO phenotype presents lower circulating levels of POPs as compared to the metabolically abnormal obese (MAO) phenotype.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a cross-sectional study of 76 nondiabetic obese (body mass index ≥30 kg/m(2)) postmenopausal women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Plasma concentrations of 21 POPs as well as cardiometabolic risk factors were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For similar age, body mass index, and fat mass index, MHO women (n = 40) showed higher insulin sensitivity levels and a more favorable cardiometabolic profile than MAO women (n = 36), as evidenced by a 2-fold increase in glucose disposal rates measured by the hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp (P = .001). Among 18 detectable pollutants measured, MAO women had higher plasma concentrations of 12 POPs (fold increase, 1.4-2.9; P < .001-.036). Logistic regression analyses showed that the prevalence of the MAO phenotype was significantly associated with higher levels of total dioxin- and non-dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (odds ratio, 4.7; 95% confidence interval, 1.8-12.5; P = .002), as well as trans-nonachlor (odds ratio, 6.1; 95% CI, 2.2-16.4; P < .001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study demonstrates that the metabolically healthy and abnormal phenotypes have distinct plasma POP profiles.
authors.affiliation: Institut de Recherches Cliniques de Montréal (M.-S.G., R.R.-L.), Montréal, Québec, H2W 1R7, Canada; Montreal Diabetes Research Centre at the Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM) (M.-S.G., R.R.-L.) Montréal, Québec, H1W 4A4, Canada; The Nutrition Department (R.R.-L.), Université de Montréal; the Endocrinology Division (R.R.-L.), Montreal University Hospital, Montréal, Québec, Canada H2W 1T8; School of Human Kinetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, K1N 6N5, Canada; Institut de Recherche de l'Hôpital Montfort (D.P.), Ottawa, Ontario, K1K 0T2, Canada; Department of Kinanthropology (A.K.), Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada H3C 3P8; MTM Research Center (D.G., B.v.B.), School of Science and Technology, Örebro University, SE-701 82 Örebro, Sweden; and Department of Biology (J.R.), University of Bergen, N-5006 Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Marie-Soleil
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Gauthier
authors.forename: Rémi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rabasa-Lhoret
authors.forename: Denis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Prud'homme
authors.forename: Antony D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Karelis
authors.forename: Dawei
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Geng
authors.forename: Bert
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: van Bavel
authors.forename: Jérôme
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ruzzin
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006262:Health; D006801:Humans; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000097:blood*; D050177:Overweight / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D010641:Phenotype; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D009930:Organic Chemicals