Evaluation of some markers of subclinical atherosclerosis in Egyptian young adult males with abdominal obesity

Young adults with abdominal obesity are liable to have subclinical atherosclerosis that may contribute to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease later in life. This study aims to evaluate subclinical atherosclerosis and its possible correlation with some inflammatory and biochemical markers in Egyptian young adult males with abdominal obesity. The study includes 50 young adult males (age range: 19-29 years) divided into two groups. Group 1 comprises 20 non-obese subjects (controls). Group 2 comprises 30 apparently healthy obese subjects. Carotid intima media thickness (carotid-IMT) was estimated using B-mode ultrasonography of the common carotid arteries, and abdominal ultrasonography was performed to assess the presence of a fatty liver. Laboratory investigations included fasting levels of serum glucose, triglycerides (TG), cholesterol (total [TC], high-density [HDL-cholesterol] and low-density [LDL-cholesterol] lipoprotein fractions), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), neopterin, lipoprotein-a (Lp[a]), gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT), aspartate and alanine aminotransferases (AST, ALT), plasma plasminogen and fibrinogen. Results showed that carotid IMT, serum hs-CRP, neopterin, Lp(a), fibrinogen, plasminogen, TC, TG, LDL-cholesterol and liver enzymes were significantly elevated (P<0.001) in the obese group compared to controls. All obese subjects showed evidence of fatty liver. A significant positive correlation was found between carotid-IMT and body mass index, waist circumference, waist/hip ratio, cholesterol, triglycerides, neopterin, hs-CRP AST, ALT and GGT. Elevated serum levels of inflammatory biomarkers and increased ALT, AST and GGT, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease biomarkers may be useful predictors of subclinical atherosclerosis.