Oxidative Stress and Low-Grade Inflammatory Status as Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in Italian Occupational Overweight/Obese Subjects

Abstract

Obesity is associated with increased risk of cardiometabolic diseases. Adipocytokines (e.g. leptin), produced by the endocrine function of adipose tissue, can contribute to cardiometabolic risk in overweight and obese people. Oxidative stress, imbalance between oxidants and antioxidants, is considered a cardiovascular risk factor. High serum oxidized LDL (oxLDL) levels, marker of lipid peroxidation, a primary cause of atherosclerosis, can contribute to its progression. The aims of this study are to assess markers of oxidative status and cytokine profile and evaluate their role as cardiometabolic risk factors and possible correlations. In this cross-sectional study, we enrolled 76 occupational overweight-obese adults (46 females, 30 males; aged 46.8±9.5; BMI 33.7±4.8 kg/m2) without any previous cardiovascular disease. Oxidative status was measured by evaluating serum Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) levels, Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC) and oxLDL concentrations. All subjects' soluble cytokine and adhesion molecule levels were evaluated by cytofluorimetric method and compared with 35 controls matched for sex and age. ROS and oxLDL levels were high in 84% and 92% of the study population, respectively, despite adequate TAC (68%). Female ROS levels were significantly higher than those of males (414±99.3 vs 318±48.2 UCarr, p<0.0001), while their oxLDL levels were lower (95.3±22 vs 105.2±19.4 U/L, p=0.1). Leptin and sICAM-1 (intracellular adhesion molecule involved in leukocyte migration to inflamed area) levels of the study population were significantly higher than those of controls (93.8±89.1 vs 25.3±23 ng/mL, p=0.0002 and 505.8±236.7 vs 339.2±119.6 ng/mL, p=0.0009, respectively). Overweight/obese occupational subjects showed oxidative stress conditions accompanied by low chronic inflammatory status, possibly contributing to increased cardiometabolic risk.