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Diabesity: an inflammatory metabolic condition
Maria Inês Schmidt1, Bruce Bartholow Duncan
1Graduate Studies Program in Epidemiology, School of Medicine, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine
|November 6, 2003
Summary
Diabesity, or obesity-dependent diabetes, is linked to chronic inflammation. This review explores the connection between obesity, inflammation, and conditions like diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD).
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Endocrinology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Diabesity (obesity-dependent diabetes) is a significant public health concern.
- Traditional explanations involve insulin resistance and pancreatic beta-cell dysfunction.
- Emerging paradigms highlight the role of inflammation in obesity-related metabolic diseases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review epidemiological findings on the inflammatory nature of diabetes, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and metabolic syndrome.
- To examine the innate immune system's role in the chronic inflammation associated with diabesity.
- To propose a framework integrating epidemiological and basic science findings on obesity as an inflammatory condition ('obesitis').
Main Methods:
- Epidemiological analysis, primarily using data from the ARIC Study.
- Review of existing epidemiological studies on diabetes, CVD, and metabolic syndrome.
- Examination of the innate immune system and its metabolic interfaces.
Main Results:
- Epidemiological evidence supports a strong association between inflammation, obesity, diabetes, and CVD.
- The innate immune system contributes to a mild, chronic, systemic inflammation linked to diabesity.
- Obesity is characterized as an inflammatory condition ('obesitis').
Conclusions:
- Inflammation is a central mechanism linking obesity to diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.
- Understanding the innate immune system's role in metabolism is crucial for addressing diabesity.
- A conceptual framework integrating inflammation, obesity, and metabolic diseases is proposed.