Association of Biomarkers for Dyslipidemia, Inflammation, and Oxidative Stress with Endothelial Dysfunction in Obese Youths: A Case–Control Study

Abstract

Charu Sharma,1 Abubaker Suliman,2 Sania Mazin AL Hamad,3 Javed Yasin,1 Mohamed Abuzakouk,4 Juma AlKaabi,1 Elhadi Husein Aburawi3 1Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, 15551, United Arab Emirates; 2Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, 15551, United Arab Emirates; 3Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, 15551, United Arab Emirates; 4Department of Immunology & Allergy, Cleveland Clinic, Abu Dhabi, United Arab EmiratesCorrespondence: Elhadi Husein Aburawi, Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, 15551, United Arab Emirates, Email [email protected]: The United Arab Emirates (UAE), with its characteristic local population, geography, and history, presents several risk factors for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) in obese individuals. Obesity and its associated complications, including diabetes, atherogenic dyslipidemia, and CVDs leading to significant health risks. In the present study, “Youths” defined as young people between 18 and 22 years. We assessed dyslipidemia, inflammation, and oxidative stress biomarker levels and their association with endothelial dysfunction (ED) in both overweight/obese and normal weight youths of UAE.Methods: There were 160 youths with overweight/obese (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2) patients and healthy age- and sex-matched normal weight (BMI ≤ 24.9 kg/m2) as controls participated in this study. The anthropometric data and blood samples were collected to assess the biomarkers for dyslipidemia, inflammation, oxidative stress, ED from all the youths.Results: The overall mean age and male-to-female ratio were 20± 1.5years and 1.0:1.2, respectively. There was statistically significant difference in HDL-C (p< 0.001), triglycerides (TG) (p< 0.001), ApoA (p=0.002), ApoB/ApoA ratio (p=0.009) between the overweight/obese and normal weight youths. Among, inflammatory markers: hs-CRP, IL-6, TNF-α also showed significant p< 0.001 and oxidative stress markers: DNA/RNA Damage, catalase and nitric oxide (NO) showed significant p< 0.001 between groups. Spearman correlation of ED markers with lipid profile markers showed Vitamin C levels positively correlated with HDL-C (p< 0.001) and negatively correlated with glucose (p< 0.001). ICAM-1showed significant negative correlation with HDL-C (p< 0.01) and ApoA (p< 0.001) but positive correlation with TG (p< 0.01) and HbA1c (p< 0.001) among groups. Spearman correlation of ED markers with inflammatory/oxidative stress biomarkers showed Vitamin C levels negatively correlated with ferritin (p < 0.001), NO (p < 0.001), GGT (p < 0.001), and ALT (p < 0.001) levels. The ICAM-1showed significant positive correlation with hs-CRP (p < 0.01), IL-6 (p < 0.001), TNF-α (p < 0.01), GGT (p < 0.05), and ALT (p < 0.05) in both groups.Conclusion: This study revealed a strong link between the biomarkers of dyslipidemia, inflammation, and oxidative stress with ED in overweight/obese patients. This study might be used to predict future cardiovascular events in this population.Keywords: dyslipidemia, inflammation, oxidative stress, endothelial dysfunction, obesity, youth

Keywords

• dyslipidemia
• inflammation
• and oxidative stress
• endothelial dysfunction
• obesity
• youth