This paper sought to determine the obesity phenotype mostly associated with increased circulating soluble tumor necrosis factor-alpha receptor 2 (sTNFR2) concentrations and also evaluate if sTNFR2 was a better correlate of indices of plasma glucose-insulin homeostasis compared to plasma TNF-alpha. The study sample included 287 asymptomatic adult men from the Québec City region. Results of this study showed that circulating sTNFR2 concentrations were more closely related to abdominal obesity than TNF-alpha levels. Moreover, for any given amount of total body fat, the subgroup of individuals with a selective excess of intra-abdominal (visceral) adipose tissue had significantly higher sTNFR2 concentrations compared to the subgroup with low levels of intra-abdominal adipose tissue. Analyses also revealed that circulating sTNFR2 was a better correlate of insulin resistance compared to plasma TNF-alpha. These results provide evidence that sTNFR2 is more closely associated with intra-abdominal adiposity and also support the notion that sTNFR2 is a better circulating marker of insulin resistance than plasma TNF-alpha.
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