Role of omentin-1 and C-reactive protein in obese subjects with subclinical inflammation

BACKGROUND: While chronic subclinical inflammation is now considered to be a predisposing risk factor of cardiovascular diseases, the extent by which adipokines induce metabolic abnormalities in humans is not fully resolved. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between insulin resistance and serum inflammatory markers in obese subjects. METHODS: One hundred and five subjects without any clinically evident CVD were classified into 3 coronary risk levels according to Framingham risk score. Demographic and anthropometric variables were estimated. Serum levels of lipid profile, blood glucose, insulin, omentin-1 and high sensitivity-C reactive protein (hs-CRP) were measured in fasting blood samples. Insulin resistance indices were also calculated. RESULTS: 29% and 62% of the study population were overweight and obese respectively by body mass index (BMI) measures. Almost half of the study population was considered diabetic. There was a tendency for a fall in serum omentin-1 concentrations with increasing coronary risk with a significant increase in hs-CRP levels in the same direction (p < 0.05). Age and fasting blood glucose were found to be independently associated with serum omentin-1 levels. BMI and fasting blood glucose were independent determinants of serum hs-CRP levels. CONCLUSIONS: Omentin-1 might be associated with the development of diabetes mellitus indirectly via insulin activity and obesity. These findings may have important implications for the pathophysiology and therapy of diabetes mellitus by further longitudinal studies.