Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 14, 2026
08:58
En Face Detection of Nitric Oxide and Superoxide in Endothelial Layer of Intact Arteries
Published on: February 25, 2016
Oxidative stress in normal-weight obese syndrome
Laura Di Renzo1, Fabio Galvano, Carmine Orlandi
1Division of Human Nutrition, Department of Neuroscience, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.)
|March 27, 2010
Summary
Normal-weight obese (NWO) individuals exhibit early inflammatory status and oxidative stress, characterized by lower glutathione and nitric oxide levels, and higher lipid hydroperoxides. These metabolic abnormalities are linked to increased fat mass and inflammatory markers.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry and Metabolism
- Human Physiology and Body Composition
- Oxidative Stress and Inflammation Research
Background:
- Normal-weight obese (NWO) syndrome is defined by normal body weight and BMI but high fat mass (>30%).
- NWO subjects have demonstrated an early inflammatory status.
- The presence of oxidative stress in NWO individuals requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the occurrence of oxidative stress in normal-weight obese (NWO) women.
- To compare oxidative stress markers between normal-weight (NW), NWO, and obese (OB) women.
- To explore correlations between oxidative stress markers, body composition, and metabolic parameters.
Main Methods:
- Sixty age-matched Italian women were categorized into NW (BMI <25, FM% <30%), NWO (BMI <25, FM% >30%), and OB (BMI >25, FM% >30%) groups.
- Measurements included anthropometrics, body composition (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry), plasma cytokines, reduced glutathione (GSH), lipid hydroperoxide (LOOH), nitric oxide metabolites (NO(2)(-)/NO(3)(-)), and antioxidant nonproteic capacity (ANPC).
- Glucose and lipid metabolism parameters were also assessed.
Main Results:
- NWO and OB groups showed significantly lower GSH and NO(2)(-)/NO(3)(-) levels and higher LOOH levels compared to NW individuals.
- ANPC was lower in NWO than NW but higher than in OB.
- GSH levels correlated negatively with body weight, BMI, fat mass, and waist circumference, and positively with fat-free mass and certain cytokines.
- LOOH levels correlated negatively with fat-free mass and positively with fat mass, IL-15, TNF-α, insulin, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides.
Conclusions:
- Normal-weight obese individuals experience oxidative stress, in addition to an early inflammatory status.
- Oxidative stress in NWO is associated with metabolic abnormalities characteristic of obesity.
- These findings highlight the health risks associated with NWO syndrome, even in the absence of overweight.
Related Concept Videos
01:24Obesity
The Body Mass Index (BMI) is a numerical value derived from a person's weight and height, used to categorize individuals into weight ranges. It is calculated using the formula: weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. Obesity is a health condition characterized by excessive accumulation of adipose tissue that poses health risks, often diagnosed with a BMI ≥ 30. This excess fat storage occurs when surplus dietary calories are converted into triglycerides and stored in adipocytes...
01:20Pharmacokinetics in Obese Patients: Drug Metabolism and Excretion
Drug metabolism, a critical process in the liver, involves two primary phases: Phase I reactions and Phase II conjugation. Obesity introduces significant alterations in this metabolic process, primarily due to fatty infiltration of the liver, leading to conditions such as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This condition can modify the activities of both Phase I and II enzymes, impacting how drugs are metabolized in obese patients.Phase I metabolism sees variable effects across...
01:26Type II Diabetes I: Introduction
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by insulin resistance, in which target tissues such as the liver, muscle, and adipose tissue respond poorly to insulin. It is also associated with inadequate compensatory insulin secretion, where pancreatic β-cells fail to produce sufficient insulin. Together, these abnormalities lead to persistent hyperglycemia.EtiologyT2DM develops through a complex interaction of genetic predisposition and environmental or...
01:24Type II Diabetes II: Pathophysiology
PathophysiologyType 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM ) is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by insulin resistance and progressive pancreatic β-cell dysfunction, leading to impaired glucose homeostasis. It results from interactions among genetic predisposition, environmental factors, and metabolic stressors, such as overnutrition and a sedentary lifestyle.Insulin Resistance and Glucose DysregulationEarly T2DM involves insulin resistance in skeletal muscle, adipose tissue, and the liver.
01:19Psychoneuroimmunology: Diabetes and Cancer
Chronic stress has been linked to both the onset and progression of serious health conditions, including Type 2 diabetes and cancer. Type 2 diabetes, a widespread chronic illness, is closely associated with obesity and insulin resistance, both of which often worsen under stress. Studies indicate that men experiencing high levels of chronic stress face a 45% higher risk of developing diabetes compared to those with minimal stress. Stress triggers physiological responses that elevate blood...
01:26Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques IV
Stress often leads to unhealthy habits like smoking, excessive drinking, and overeating, which offer short-term relief but ultimately increase long-term health risks. These behaviors create a cycle that temporarily lowers stress levels but can result in severe long-term health consequences. Breaking these habits is essential to reduce the risk of chronic diseases and improve overall well-being. Three primary changes that support better health include quitting smoking, reducing alcohol intake,...