Adiposity and inflammation markers explain mostly part of the plasma zonulin variation in Brazilian adults with overweight/obesity: A cross-sectional analysis from Brazilian nuts study

Objective This study evaluated intestinal permeability according to plasma zonulin and its association with adiposity, inflammation, cardiometabolic risk, liver function, and intestinal health markers in adults with overweight/obesity. Methodology This study is a cross-sectional analysis using baseline data from the Brazilian Nut Study, which involved 123 participants (93 women, age 33.2 +/- 8.58 years, BMI 33.9 +/- 4.30kg/m2). Subjects were divided into quartiles according to plasma zonulin, assessed by Elisa. Cytokines were assessed by flow cytometry; anthropometric measurements were collected by standard procedure and body composition was assessed by DXA. SCFA analysis was performed by high-performance liquid chromatography, and fecal pH, by a pH meter. Linear regression models were performed (alpha<5 %). Results Participants included in the last quartile of plasma zonulin had higher values of body fat (%), pro-inflammatory cytokines (CRP, IL-1). According to the multivariate regression model, each one-unit increased in body fat, CRP, IL-12p70, IL-6 and IL-8 resulted correspondingly in an increment of 0.42, 0.14, 0.192, 0.250 and 0.312 ng/ml in plasma zonulin, respectively. Conversely, a one-unit decreased in IL-10 led to an increase of 0.40 ng/ml in plasma zonulin. Conclusion Intestinal permeability assessed by plasma zonulin is associated with adiposity, subclinical inflammation and reduced serum HDL levels adults with overweight/obesity, while adiposity and inflammation markers are independent factors for plasma zonulin variation.