Low‐grade inflammation and weight gain in reproductive‐aged women (391.4)

Abstract

Objective To investigate whether low‐grade inflammation is related to weight gain in reproductive‐aged women.Methods We quantified C‐reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) in plasma of 440 Project Viva mothers at 3 y postpartum, and obtained research measures of weight and waist circumference (WC) at 3 and 7 y postpartum. There were no intervening pregnancies during the study period. Using multivariable linear regression, we examined the relation of CRP and IL‐6 quartiles with weight and WC change over 4 y of follow‐up.Results At 3 y postpartum, median age was 37 y (range: 20 ‐ 48). Mean ± SD BMI was 26.3 ± 6.4 kg/m2, waist circumference 87.5 ± 12.8 cm, CRP 2.02 ± 3.74 mg/L, and IL‐6 1.57 ± 2.94 pg/mL; 73.6% were white. Weight (2.6 ± 5.8 kg) and WC (2.4 ± 6.5 cm) increased during follow‐up. After adjustment for age, parity, race, education level, delivery method, anthropometry at 3 y postpartum, and time lag between the 3 and 7 y anthropometric assessments, there were no associations of CRP or IL‐6 with weight or WC change.Conclusions Inflammation was not related to weight gain in this sample of reproductive‐aged women. Future studies with a longer duration of follow‐up are warranted.Grant Funding Source: Supported by the National Institutes of Health