Eliza Kubicka

The vitamin D receptor gene BsmI polymorphism is not associated with anthropometric and biochemical parameters describing metabolic syndrome in postmenopausal women

Aim. Vitamin D could have a direct effect on adipocyte differentiation and metabolism and might be involved in glucose regulation of insulin secretion. In recent years several polymorphisms in the gene encoding the vitamin D receptor (VDR), which are potent to alter the activity of VDR protein, have been described. The present study aimed to investigate the prevalence of the VDR BsmI polymorphism and its association with anthropometric and biochemical features of metabolic syndrome in postmenopausal women. Materials and methods. We studied 351 randomly selected healthy postmenopausal women, with mean age of 55.43 ± 2.75 years and mean body mass index (BMI) of 27.5 ± 4.78 kg/m2, to evaluate the frequency of BsmI polymorphism (by restriction fragment length polymorphism–polymerase chain reaction) in the VDR gene and to find out whether there is an association between this polymorphism and BMI, total fat volume and visceral fat (as determined by total body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry), blood pressure, lipid profile (total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides) glucose and fasting insulin in the whole group, as well as subgroups of obese and non-obese women. Results. The prevalence of BsmI genotypes in the study group was 51.0% Bb, 37.3% bb and 11.7% BB. Genotype distribution did not differ from that expected under Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium conditions (χ2 = 2.95, p = 0.22). Apart from LDL-C levels (F = 3.46, p = 0.032), there were no significant differences in anthropometric or metabolic parameters between genotypes. Conclusions. The BsmI polymorphism in the VDR gene does not seem to predispose to obesity and insulin resistance, but the BB genotype is connected with an unfavorable lipid profile.

Accumulation of abdominal fat in relation to selected proinflammatory cytokines concentrations in non-obese Wrocław inhabitants.

INTRODUCTION Metabolically obese normal weight (MONW) subjects, despite their normal BMI, present metabolic disturbances characteristic of abdominal obesity. One of the reasons might be subclinical inflammation caused by the fat tissue excess. The aim of this study was to assess the association between the accumulation of fat (especially abdominal) and the concentration of selected proinflammatory cytokines - interleukins (IL-6, IL-18) and C-reactive protein (CRP). MATERIAL AND METHODS The study population consisted of 342 subjects (218 women, 124 men; age 20-40 years, BMI < 27 kg/m2) recruited from a community centre in Wroclaw. The group was divided based on the homeostasis assessment insulin resistance index (HOMA) value: 90 MONW subjects with HOMA > 1.69 and 252 subjects as control group. Anthropometric parameters, serum IL-6, IL-18, CRP, glucose, insulin concentrations and insulin sensitivity/resistance indexes were evaluated. RESULTS CRP levels were significantly higher (3.26 vs. 1.97, p = 0.03) in MONW women than in the control group. Serum IL-6, IL-18 levels in males and females did not differ in both groups. IL-6 showed a significant correlation with the abdominal to gynoidal fat tissue deposit ratio in women. There were correlations between the CRP and BMI, WHR, waist circumference, total fat, abdominal fat deposit, and abdominal to gynoidal fat deposit ratio in both sexes. In women, positive correlations between CRP and HOMA, FIRI and negative with QUICKI index were present. CONCLUSIONS Increased accumulation of abdominal adipose tissue in non-obese, young and healthy subjects is related to increased CRP levels.

Treatment with statins and testosterone levels in men

INTRODUCTION Statins belong to the most commonly used medicines worldwide. They affect cholesterol synthesis and thus they may suppress steroidogenesis. Our aim was to evaluate whether the use of statins is associated with the concentration of sex hormones.Material and methods/Results: In a population sample of men (n = 237) we found that subjects receiving statins had significantly lower concentrations of: total testosterone (14.9 vs. 16.35 nmol/L, p = 0.008 after correction for body mass), free testosterone (32 vs. 39 pmol/L, p = 0.004), calculated free testosterone (0.32 vs. 0.36 nmol/L, p < 0.001) and bioavailable testosterone (6.10 vs. 7.56 nmol/L, p < 0.001) than age-matched controls. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that the use of statins may have an impact on the diagnosis of age-related testosterone deficiency in men.

Metabolic Healthy Obesity and Metabolic Obesity with Normal Weight and CVD Risk in Women

Obesity is defined as the excess of body fat and results from interactions between genes and the environment. The factors contributing to obesity are unsuitable nutrition and food overproduction, poor physical activity, mental stress, psychoemotional disorders, and metabolic and hormonal disturbances [1].