Abstract
Background/Aims. The effect of benign obesity on subclinical cardiovascular disease is still questionable. The purpose of this study was to assess carotid intima media thickness (CIMT), as a marker of subclinical atherosclerosis, and to evaluate its relation to age, sex, and IGF-1 in metabolically healthy obese (MHO) subjects. Methods. A total of 75 MHO subjects and 80 age, and sex matched healthy nonobese control subjects were included in the study. Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, fasting insulin, HOMA-IR, lipid profile, insulin like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), and CIMT were assessed in all subjects. Results. MHO subjects had significantly higher CIMT and lower IGF-1 than healthy nonobese controls. Mean CIMT was significantly higher in MHO men age subgroup range from 30 to 50 years than in their age range matched (premenopausal) MHO women subgroup. In MHO subjects, CIMT was positively correlated with age, BMI, WC, SBP, HOMA-IR, TG, and LDL-C, and negatively correlated with IGF-1. Regression analysis revealed that middle age, male sex and IGF-1 remained independently associated with CIMT in MHO subjects. Conclusion. CIMT is elevated and IGF-1 is reduced in MHO subjects, and CIMT is independently associated with male gender, middle age, and IGF-1. Definition of healthy obesity may be broadened to include IMT measurement.
Highlights
Healthy obese (MHO) term refers to obese individuals who are relatively insulin sensitive and normotensive and have favourable glucose and lipid profile inspite of high levels of obesity [1, 2]
No significant difference was observed between metabolically healthy obese (MHO) men and women regarding fasting insulin, Homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), TG, high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and insulin like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) (Table 2)
carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) was significantly higher in MHO men than in MHO women (0.82 ± 0.16 versus 0.74 ± 0.14) (Table 2)
Summary
Healthy obese (MHO) term refers to obese individuals who are relatively insulin sensitive and normotensive and have favourable glucose and lipid profile inspite of high levels of obesity [1, 2]. Evidence suggests that MHO individuals as based on BMI criteria may account for as much as 20–30% of obese population [3, 4]. MHO subset of individuals is relatively protected from obesity related cardiometabolic disturbances that increase cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in metabolically abnormal obese [5]. Data concerning the exact risk of CVD in MHO as compared to healthy normal weight individuals is limited, and most data are confined to women at narrow age range. IMT is associated with age, male gender, obesity, and traditional risk factors [8,9,10,11]
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