Resistin levels and inflammatory markers in patients with morbid obesity

Background: The aim of the present study was to explore the relationship of resistin levels with inflammatory markers and anthropometric parameters in morbid obese patients. Subjects: A population of 46 morbid obese was analyzed. A complete nutritional and biochemical evaluation was performed. Patients were divided in two groups by median resistin value (3.49 ng/ml), group I(low values, average value 2.60 +/- 0.5) and group II (high values, average value 5.71 +/- 2.25). Results: Patients in the group II had higher weight, BMI, fat mass, waist circumference, LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, fibrinogen and C reactive protein than patients in group I. In the multivariate analysis with age- and sex-adjusted basal resistin concentration as a dependent variable, only fibrinogen and LDL cholesterol remained as an independent predictor in the model (F = 8.5; p < 0.05). Resistin concentration increase 0.01 ng/ml (CI95%: 0.003-0.017) for each mg/dl of fibrinogen increased. Resistin concentration increase 0.03 ng/ml (CI95%: 0.003-0.049) for each mg/dl of LDL-cholesterol increased. Conclusion: Circulating resistin concentrations are associated with different inflammatory markers, triglycerides, LDL cholesterol and anthropometric variables in morbid obese patients. Further studies are needed to explore these interesting relationships.