Association between Serum Visfatin, Oxidative Stress, Inflammation and Metabolic Syndrome in Obese Premenopausal Women

Abstract

Introduction: Visfatin is an adipokine secreted by visceral fat tissue that has important effects on normal insulin secretion. An association has been found between visfatin and cardiovascular risk factors and obesity. Despite its role in the production of inflammatory cytokines, the role of visfatin in the Metabolic Syndrome (MS) is still a matter of debate. Aim: To evaluate the relation between serum visfatin levels, oxidative stress markers, Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and (MS) in premenopausal obese women. Materials and Methods: The study enrolled 150 premenopausal obese women and 80 age-matched healthy non-obese controls. Serum visfatin and IL-6 levels were measured by Enzyme linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Oxidative status was assessed by Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC), Malondialdehyde (MDA), vitamins A and E and DNA damage was assessed by Comet assay. Results: Obese MS patients had significantly higher levels of visfatin, blood pressure levels, MDA and lower levels of TAC, A and E vitamins than the control group. DNA damage was significantly higher in obese women with MS and with a history of recurrent pre-eclampsia than controls. Multiple stepwise regressions analysis showed that log visfatin was positively correlated with MS components, IL-6 and MDA, serum lipids, DNA damage and negatively correlated with TAC and vitamin A and E. The log visfatin level of 1.56 had 76% sensitivity and 71% specificity for detecting MS in obese women with the area under the curve of 0.91. Conclusion: Significant positive correlations were observed between visfatin levels, oxidative and inflammatory markers with metabolic disturbance and pregnancy complications. These findings might emphasise the pathophysiological roles of these biomarkers in MS and pre-eclampsia and it may be useful to give treat to women in early pregnancy.

Keywords

• dna damage
• inflammatory markers
• obesity
• oxidative stress