Biomarkers associated with obesity and overweight in the Roma population residing in eastern Slovakia.
BACKGROUND
Obesity and overweight are major contributors to the global burden of chronic diseases and disability in both majority and minority populations.


METHODS
Data from the cross-sectional population-based HepaMeta study conducted in Slovakia in 2011 were used. The sample comprised a total of 452 Roma. Measurements of special bioactive mediators were taken in final groups consisting of 63 male Roma respondents (mean age = 32.59; SD = 8.63) and 117 female Roma respondents (mean age = 34.55; SD = 8.35). Respondents were divided into three groups: those with normal weight, those with overweight and obese. Values for anthropometric parameters, lipids parameters, C-reactive protein, TNF-alpha, IL-6, leptin, and adiponectin were determined.


RESULTS
27.6% of examined Roma females and 26.9% of males were overweight. Obesity (BMI > 30.0 kg/m2) appeared in a higher proportion of males (28.8%) compared with female (26.5%). Mean levels of total cholesterol, triacylglycerol and LDL-cholesterol were significantly elevated in the overweight and obese subjects compared to normal-weight Roma respondents. The relation was reversed for HDL-C level, with significantly decreased levels in both male and female obese Roma (p < 0.001). The concentration of adiponectin was significantly lower in obese subjects of both genders versus non-obese (Roma male p < 0.001, Roma female p < 0.05). Plasma levels of leptin, IL-6, hs-CRP as well as TNF-alpha increased in Roma significantly with increasing BMI.


CONCLUSIONS
The study is the first one to provide data about selected biomarkers. Results may be useful in predicting obesity and its related diseases in the Roma population from the eastern part of Slovakia.
Darina
D
Petrásová
Izabela
I
Bertková
Miroslava
M
Petrásová
Emília
E
Hijová
Mária
M
Mareková
Ingrid
I
Babinská
Peter
P
Jarcuska
Daniel
D
Pella
Andrea Madarasová
AM
Gecková
D052242:Adiponectin / Q000097:blood; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000208:ethnology*; D050177:Overweight / Q000097:blood* / Q000208:ethnology*; D006178:Romani People / Q000208:ethnology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017678:Sex Distribution; D018154:Slovakia / Q000453:epidemiology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
D052242:Adiponectin; D015415:Biomarkers; D015850:Interleukin-6; D020738:Leptin; D008055:Lipids; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D002097:C-Reactive Protein