Obesity-Related Inflammatory Biomarkers in the Elderly Population
Georgia Vamvakou1, Nikolaos Theodorakis1, Dimitris Anagnostou1
1Department of Cardiology, Amalia Flemig General Hospital, 15127 Melissia, Greece.
Cells
|November 13, 2025
Summary
Obesity in older adults, termed adipaging, is linked to higher inflammatory markers like C-reactive protein (CRP), increasing cardiovascular risk. This chronic inflammation may worsen obesity-related conditions in the elderly.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Immunology
- Metabolic Syndrome
Background:
- Obesity in elderly individuals is associated with chronic low-grade inflammation, termed adipaging.
- Elevated inflammatory biomarkers are observed in overweight and obese older adults compared to normal-weight individuals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between obesity and inflammatory biomarkers in the elderly.
- To understand the role of adipaging in chronic inflammation and associated comorbidities.
Main Methods:
- Review of studies correlating anthropometric parameters with inflammatory markers (CXCL-16, IL-6, adipokines, CRP, fibrinogen) in middle-aged and elderly populations.
- Analysis of inflammatory marker levels across different obesity classes and in the presence of comorbidities like hypertension and diabetes.
Main Results:
- Obese elderly individuals exhibit significantly higher levels of inflammatory markers, including CXCL-16, IL-6, adipokines, CRP, and fibrinogen.
- These markers positively correlate with anthropometric measures of obesity and increased cardiovascular risk.
- Obesity-related comorbidities such as hypertension and diabetes further exacerbate inflammation.
Conclusions:
- Obesity in the elderly is characterized by heightened chronic low-grade inflammation (adipaging), indicated by elevated inflammatory biomarkers.
- This inflammatory state may contribute to the development and progression of obesity-related comorbidities in older adults.
- Further research into the specific roles of these biomarkers in aging and obesity could inform targeted interventions for this population.
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