The relationship between visfatin and serum concentrations of C-reactive protein, interleukin 6 in patients with metabolic syndrome

Aim To evaluate the relationship between inflammatory and pro inflammatory markers, with obesity and visceral adiposity in male subjects with or without metabolic syndrome (MS). Subjects and methods A total of 37 patients with MS and 37 age matched controls were included (mean age 46.35 +/- 1.6 years). MS was defined by the criteria of the international diabetes federation 2005. Anthropometric and biochemical profiles, including high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (Hs-CRP), visfatin and interleukin 6 (IL-6), were measured. Data were compared between groups by using t test. Pearson's correlation was used to evaluate the relationship between variables. P values less than 0.05 were considered as statistically significant. Results In patients with MS, CRP and IL-6 were significantly correlated with body mass index, waist circumference and waist to hip ratio. Visfatin levels were significantly lower in patients with MS compared to controls (log visfatin: 1.74 +/- 0.27 vs. 1.86 +/- 0.13 ng/ml, MS vs. control group respectively). We cannot find any significant correlation between visfatin, CRP and IL-6. Also there were no correlation between visfatin levels and any anthropometric parameters in patients with MS or control groups. Conclusion Serum visfatin was lower in patients with MS. Therefore it seems that visfatin could not be considered as a pro inflammatory adipocytokine in MS. The positive associations of obesity and visceral adiposity with elevated CRP and IL-6 levels suggest the importance of reducing visceral adiposity to prevent the risk of coronary disease.