Immunologic status in severe obesity

Aspects of humoral, secretory and cell-mediated immunologic status were studied in a group of 22 adults with severe, uncomplicated obesity. Normal concentrations of serum immunoglobulins (IgG, IgA, IgM, IgD) and complement components (C3, C4) were found. Levels of secretory IgA and lysozyme in the tears of obese patients did not differ from normal weight controls. The obese individuals had circulating sub-populations of T and B lymphocytes which were the same as controls. No effect of obesity was detected on the response of lymphocytes to stimulation in vitro with polyclonal T and B cell mitogens. All but two of the obese patients responded to one or more of the recall skin test antigens employed. We conclude that severe overweight alone, uncomplicated by diabetes or hyperlipidemia, is not associated with significant immunologic dysfunction.