Circulating hs-CRP, IL-18, Chemerin, Leptin, and Adiponectin Levels Reflect Cardiometabolic Dysfunction in Adults...

Area of Science:

• Metabolic Health
• Obesity Research
• Microbiome Science

Background:

• Up to 30% of individuals with obesity maintain normal insulin sensitivity and cardiovascular health markers.
• Identifying factors that differentiate metabolically healthy obesity from obesity with complications is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the roles of circulating adipokines and gut microbiota in distinguishing cardiometabolic health within obesity.
• To compare these factors across four groups defined by abdominal obesity and cardiometabolic status.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study of 116 individuals.
• Categorization into four groups based on abdominal obesity and cardiometabolic health.
• Comparison of circulating adipokines (hs-CRP, TNF-α, MCP-1, IL-18, chemerin, leptin, adiponectin) and gut microbiota composition.

Main Results:

• Abdominal obesity associated with elevated hs-CRP, TNF-α, MCP-1, IL-18, chemerin, leptin, and unfavorable gut microbiota (increased "CAG-Pathogen", decreased "CAG-Ruminococcaceae" and "CAG-Akkermansia").
• Individuals with obesity but normal cardiometabolic health showed adipokine and microbiota profiles similar to lean individuals.
• Abdominally obese and cardiometabolically abnormal individuals had higher hs-CRP, IL-18, chemerin, leptin, and lower adiponectin and "CAG-Ruminococcaceae" compared to metabolically healthy obese and lean individuals.

Conclusions:

• Altered adipokine profiles and gut microbiota composition are associated with cardiometabolic complications in obesity.
• These factors may play a role in the development or persistence of metabolic dysfunction in individuals with obesity.