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The effect of weight change over a 2-year period on inflammatory status in postmenopausal women

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 72, pages 388–393 (2018)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background/objectives

Body fat distribution has been shown to be a predictor of adhesion molecule and inflammatory marker expression albeit the effect of modest weight change on concentrations of adhesion molecules and inflammatory markers in postmenopausal women are not fully understood. The primary aim was to investigate the effects of weight change on adhesion molecules and inflammatory markers over 24 months in postmenopausal women.

Subjects/methods

Body composition was assessed in 254 healthy postmenopausal women using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Adhesion molecules and inflammatory markers were analysed by multiplex ELISA. Participants weight gain/loss at 24 months was defined as any value that was either above/below the weight value recorded at baseline.

Results

Postmenopausal women with an average weight loss of 3% had significantly decreased leptin concentrations by 18% at 24 months (P < 0.01). A 4% increase in body weight or a 9% increase in FMI significantly increased intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and leptin concentrations in postmenopausal women at 24 months (P < 0.01).

Conclusions

Modest weight loss in postmenopausal women has a lowering effect on leptin concentrations over 24 months which may improve inflammatory status whilst modest weight gain increases ICAM-1, leptin and TNF-α, markers which are associated with a pro-inflammatory state and vascular complications.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by Marigot (Cork, Ireland), Ingredion Inc. (Bridgewater, NJ) and the Department for Employment and Learning.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Northern Ireland Centre for Food and Health, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulster, Coleraine, Northern Ireland

    Barbara E. Cronin, Philip J. Allsopp, Mary M. Slevin, Pamela J. Magee, M. Barbara E. Livingstone, J. J. Strain & Emeir M. McSorley

  2. Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia

    Tracy A. McCaffrey

Authors
  1. Barbara E. Cronin
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Contributions

BEC conducted the laboratory analysis; BEC and EMM were involved in the statistical analysis; and BEC, PJA, MMS, PJM, TAM, MBEL, JJS and EMM were involved in data interpretation. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Emeir M. McSorley.

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The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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Cronin, B.E., Allsopp, P.J., Slevin, M.M. et al. The effect of weight change over a 2-year period on inflammatory status in postmenopausal women. Eur J Clin Nutr 72, 388–393 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-017-0014-9

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