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Is plasma 25(OH) D related to adipokines, inflammatory cytokines and insulin resistance in both a healthy and morbidly obese population?

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Abstract

To analyse in a cohort of healthy subjects and in a group of morbidly obese patients, we studied the association amongst 25(OH) D and plasma concentrations of adipocytokines, inflammatory cytokines and insulin resistance. We also aimed to determine whether vitamin D-deficient patients showed a greater inflammatory profile. In the observational study that the authors conducted, plasma concentrations of 25(OH) D, leptin, resistin, adiponectin and interleukine-18 were determined in 134 healthy men and 127 women. In the population consisting of 44 patients with morbid obesity, plasma concentrations of 25(OH) D, leptin, resistin, adiponectin, interleukine-18, soluble tumor necrosis factor receptors 1 and 2 and C-reactive protein were analysed. In the healthy population, plasma 25(OH) D showed a negative correlation with body mass index, body fat, waist, hip circumference and with leptin. However, no significant associations were found amongst 25(OH) D and plasma concentrations of resistin, adiponectin or interleukine-18. Patients with vitamin D deficiency showed higher body mass index, fat mass percentage and higher leptin concentrations compared with subjects with normal 25(OH) D concentrations. In the morbidly obese subjects, 25(OH) D did not correlate with leptin, resistin, adiponectin, interleukine-18, soluble tumor necrosis factor receptors 1 and 2 or with C-reactive protein. In patients with morbid obesity, no differences were found in adipokines and inflammatory cytokines concentrations regarding 25(OH) D status. No associations were found either between 25(OH) D and plasma glucose and insulin resistance or with lipid profile. Plasma 25(OH) D concentrations are associated with adiposity markers but not with adipocytokines implicated in inflammation. This lack of association does not support a major role of 25(OH) D in the pro-inflammatory environment observed in morbidly obese subjects. In addition, subjects with vitamin D deficiency are not characterized by a greater inflammatory state.

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Declaration of interest

There is no conflict of interest that could be perceived as prejudicing the impartiality of the research reported.

Acknowledgment

This study was supported by the CIBER of Diabetes and Associated Metabolic Diseases (CIBERDEM), a project of Instituto de Salud Carlos III, ISCIII.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Endocrinology and Diabetes Unit, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, c/ Feixa Llarga s/n, 08907, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain

    Núria Vilarrasa, Javier Maravall, Iñaki Elío, Patricia San José, Isabel García, Núria Virgili, Juan Soler & José Manuel Gómez

  2. CIBER de Diabetes y Enfermedades Metabólicas Asociadas (CIBERDEM), Barcelona, Spain

    Núria Vilarrasa, Joan Vendrell, Javier Maravall, Iñaki Elío, Esther Solano, Patricia San José, Isabel García, Núria Virgili, Juan Soler & José Manuel Gómez

  3. Unitat de Recerca, Hospital Universitari de Tarragona Joan XXIII, c/ del Escorxador s/n, 43003, Tarragona, Spain

    Joan Vendrell & Esther Solano

  4. c/ Sabino de Arana 40, 3°, 2ª, 08028, Barcelona, Spain

    José Manuel Gómez

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  1. Núria Vilarrasa
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  2. Joan Vendrell
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  10. José Manuel Gómez
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Correspondence to José Manuel Gómez.

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Vilarrasa, N., Vendrell, J., Maravall, J. et al. Is plasma 25(OH) D related to adipokines, inflammatory cytokines and insulin resistance in both a healthy and morbidly obese population?. Endocr 38, 235–242 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12020-010-9379-4

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