Association between cytokine levels and anthropometric measurements: a population-based study

Obesity is currently considered a public health problem with pandemic proportions and is associated with chronic low-grade inflammation, which can predispose to the development of several chronic diseases and metabolic complications. This cross-sectional population-based study, conducted with 743 Brazilian adults, aimed to evaluate the association between inflammatory cytokines with anthropometric measurements. Socio-demographic, anthropometric, behavioural and biochemical variables were collected. Multiple linear regression stratified by sex and adjusted for confounding factors was performed. In men, waist circumference (WC) was associated with IL-1 beta (3 center dot 52 pg/ml; 95 % CI 0 center dot 60, 6 center dot 45), IL-6 (6 center dot 35 pg/ml; 95 % CI 0 center dot 35, 12 center dot 34), IL-8 (8 center dot 77 pg/ml; 95 % CI 2 center dot 37, 15 center dot 17), IL-10 (3 center dot 09 pg/ml; 95 % CI 0 center dot 56, 5 center dot 61), IL12p70 (8 center dot 31 pg/ml; 95 % CI 3 center dot 11, 13 center dot 52) and TNF-alpha (4 center dot 22 pg/ml; 95 % CI 0 center dot 20, 10 center dot 48). Waist:height ratio was associated with IL-6 (3 center dot 21 pg/ml; 95 % CI 0 center dot 02, 6 center dot 39). BMI was associated with IL-1 beta (1 center dot 50 pg/ml; 95 % CI 0 center dot 46, 2 center dot 34), IL-6 (2 center dot 97 pg/ml; 95 % CI 0 center dot 78, 5 center dot 16), IL-8 (4 center dot 48 pg/ml; 95 % CI 2 center dot 21, 6 center dot 75), IL-10 (1 center dot 31 pg/ml; 95 % CI 0 center dot 30, 2 center dot 31), IL-12p70 (3 center dot 59 pg/ml; 95 % CI 1 center dot 24, 5 center dot 95) and TNF-alpha (2 center dot 00 pg/ml; 95 % CI 0 center dot 81, 3 center dot 19). In women, WC was associated with IL-6 (5 center dot 10 pg/ml; 95 % CI 0 center dot 68, 9 center dot 51) and IL-10 (4 center dot 16 pg/ml; 95 % CI 1 center dot 26, 7 center dot 06). BMI was associated with IL-6 (2 center dot 67 pg/ml; 95 % CI 0 center dot 34, 4 center dot 99), and WHR was associated with TNF-alpha (2 center dot 84 pg/ml; 95 % IC 0 center dot 86-6 center dot 54). The results highlight the importance of anthropometric assessment in clinical practice and the need to develop public policies and interventions to reduce the prevalence of obesity and, consequently, of inflammation and possible metabolic complications.