Weight Loss Tied to Decrease
in Inflammatory Proteins, Improved Insulin Resistance
Weight loss in morbidly obese patients
leads to significant decreases in C-reactive protein
(CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) concentrations.
That, according to a report in the June issue
of Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular
Biology. This is associated with an improvement
of the insulin resistance syndrome.
"Obesity is closely linked to the insulin
resistance syndrome (IRS), type-2 diabetes, and
cardiovascular disease," Dr. Hans-Peter Kopp,
of Rudolfstiftung Hospital, Vienna, Austria, and
colleagues note, adding that "elevated levels
of CRP and IL-6, indicating chronic subclinical
inflammation, have been associated with features
of the IRS and incident cardiovascular disease."
Thus, the team sought to investigate the potential
clinical implications of changes in circulating
levels of inflammatory proteins after weight loss.
In a cross-sectional, longitudinal study, the
researchers examined the association between IRS
and CRP, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha
(TNF-alpha) in 37 morbidly obese patients before
and after gastric surgery.
Weight loss after gastric surgery led to a significant
shift from diabetes (37% to 3%) to impaired glucose
tolerance (40% versus 33%), and to normal glucose
tolerance (23% versus 64%). Concentrations of
CRP and IL-6 were reduced significantly, whereas
levels of TNF-alpha remained unchanged.
Further analysis revealed an independent and significant
correlation between a decrease in insulin resistance
and a decrease in IL-6 concentrations (p <
0.01). In addition, a decrease in body mass index
was independently and significantly correlated
with a decrease in CRP (p < 0.05).
The authors speculate that "a significant
reduction in CRP and IL-6 levels associated with
weight loss could also reduce the cardiovascular
risk in morbidly obese patients." However,
they conclude that "long-term studies are
needed to show whether this improvement in cardiovascular
risk factors will eventually translate into a
significant clinical benefit in regard to cardiovascular
morbidity and mortality."
Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2003;23:1042-1047.
===============================
FACT:
In ASCOT-LLS Trial, with more than 19,000 people,
they found that a statin drug was responsible
for a 36% reduction in fatal coronary events and
nonfatal heart attacks, 27% reduction in fatal
and nonfatal strokes and a 21% reduction in cardiovascular
events. The Lancet April 5, 2003
