Association of obesity with leukocyte count in obese individuals without metabolic syndrome

Inflammation in obesity is associated to insulin resistance (IR), hyperglycemia, hypertension and hyperlipidemia. Leukocytes play an important role in obesity associated inflammation. The initial factors that generate the inflammatory events in the obesity remain unclear. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the association of circulating leukocytes with clinical and biochemical parameters in obese individuals with clinical and biochemical parameters in normal range and with or without IR.

Nineteen obese non-diabetic and 9 lean subjects were studied for serum levels of insulin, lipids, glycated hemoglobin, glycemia, for clinical parameters as HOMA-IR, arterial pressure and anthropometric parameters, and for leukocyte counts. Neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (N/L) was calculated using the loge of leukocyte counts. Association between leukocytes and studied parameters was determined by Pearson's correlation.

Two groups of obese individuals were observed: with high levels of insulin (with IR) and with normal levels (without IR). Positive correlations were observed between leukocyte and lymphocyte counts with body mass index and HOMA-IR and negative correlation with decreased HDL levels. Lymphocytes correlated with increased levels of insulin. Leukocytes and neutrophils correlated positively with increased visceral fat and liver steatosis. These associations were absent in the obese group without IR. N/L ratio did not show correlations with studied parameters. The leukocyte associations were mainly observed in obese individuals with IR.

These data may represent initial leukocyte associations with morbidity features and define two different obese individuals that may evolve to the chronic inflammation observed in the obesity.