Low-grade chronic inflammation in the relationship between insulin sensitivity and cardiovascular disease (RISC) population: associations with insulin resistance and cardiometabolic risk profile.

Description

This study examined the role of low grade inflammation in the Relationship between Insulin Sensitivity and Cardiovascular Disease (RISC) in a cohort of 1326 non diabetic European men and women aged 30 to 60 years. Inflammation was measured using markers such as total white blood cell count (WBC) and erythrocyte sedimentation (ESR) and their association with insulin resistance (as measured by the hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp) and cardiometabolic risk variables were analyzed. After adjustments for inflammation and waist circumference, WBC was found to be associated with HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, heart rate, fasting C-peptide, insulin and 2-hour insulin in men and women as well as 2-hour glucose in women while ESR was associated with HDL cholesterol, heart rate, fasting and 2-hour insulin in men and women as well as with fat mass in women. These results provide evidence that low-grade inflammation is associated with the cardiometabolic risk profile in a healthy population. The authors conclude that insulin resistance does not seem to mediate the relationship between inflammation and other cardiometabolic risk factors.