Circulating level of interleukin-6 in relation to body mass indices and lipid profile in Egyptian adults with overweight and obesity

Background Obesity is an important feature of metabolic syndrome, and the link between them has been attributed to the state of chronic inflammatory process. The purpose of the study is to investigate the relation of circulating level of IL-6 as an inflammatory cytokine to body mass index and lipid profile in adults with overweight and obesity. Methods This cross-sectional study included 15 adults with overweight, 45 with obesity (15 grade I, 15 grade II, and 15 grade III), and 25 average weight controls. Circulating IL-6 level and lipid profile were measured. Results Highly significant differences were found between study groups in different grades of obesity as regards weight, body mass index, serum triglycerides, and serum LDL-C. Circulating levels of IL6 were significantly higher in subjects with overweight and obesity. There were significantly positive correlations between circulating levels of IL6 and BMI in subjects with grade III obesity and negative correlation with serum HDL-C in subjects with grade II obesity. Conclusion High circulating level of IL-6 could reflect the intensity of the chronic and systemic inflammation that develops with high degrees of obesity, which might contribute to the development of atherosclerosis and coronary heart diseases, both directly and by reducing HDL-C levels.