Characterization of the oxidative stress and inflammatory markers in metabolically healthy obese individuals

Introduction and Objectives: Obesity has emerged as a global health problem. Although various studies have linked obesity to a wide spectrum of diseases mainly diabetes and cardiovascular disease, little is known concerning involvement of oxidative stress and inflammation in non-diseased conditions. The current study aims to explore the feasibility of inflammatory markers and oxidative stress markers in sera of metabolically healthy obese individuals. Methods: The current study involved one hundred healthy participants. Following obtaining relevant clinical data, sera were taken for further laboratory investigations including lipid profile, fasting serum glucose and HbA1c. Samples were also investigated for determining inflammatory and oxidative stress markers including highly sensitive C - reactive protein (hs-CRP), malondialdehyde (MDA) and gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT). Results: Total cholesterol, triglyceride and fasting blood glucose levels were statistically significantly higher in study group compared to controls (p < 0.0001, 0.009 and < 0.0001 respectively). The hs-CRP, MDA and GGT were also statistically significantly higher in healthy obese (p < 0.001, 0.005 and 0.001 respectively). Moreover, MDA was positively correlated with GGT and was statistically significant (p < 0.001). Conclusion: The obtained findings suggest that, there may be an existence of a low grade chronic inflammation consistent with oxidative stress which might be considered as a risk factor for developing metabolic diseases and cardiovascular disturbances mainly diabetes mellitus, hypertension and stroke.