Is plasma soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule (sVCAM)‎-1 level related to plasma insulin level and insulin sensitivity in obese pre-menopausal females?

Abstract EN

Background : obesity and the associated metabolic pathologies are the most common and detrimental metabolic diseases, affecting a great deal of the adult population, and increasing among children and adolescents.

Obesity is strongly associated with insulin resistance.

Furthermore, atherosclerosis and its consequences are found in obese persons and those with insulin resistance.

Both conditions arise from a chronic inflammatory response characterized by abnormal cytokine production, increased acute phase reactants, and activation of inflammatory signaling pathways.

Endothelial cell dys-function (ECD) is the initial event in the occurrence of atherosclerosis, where increased expression of cell adhesion molecules occurs.

Aim of the work: The present work was done to evaluate the possible intriguing relationships among insulin, glucose, and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule (sVCAM)-1 plasma levels in obese pre-menopausal females.

Subjects and methods: Forty five pre-menopausal obese females (Body mass index > 30 Kg / m2) and fifteen lean females (BMI < 25 Kg / m2) were included in the present study.

All were subjected to thorough clinical examination, anthropometric measurements, carotid intima media thickness )CIMT), ECG, and laboratory investigations (fasting and post-prandial plasma glucose, urea, creatinine, lipid profile, albumin, aspartate and alanine aminotransferases, insulin and soluble VCAM-1).

Insulin resistance homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR) value was calculated.

Results : The results of this study showed that the mean plasma sVCAM-1 value in the obese females group was slightly lower than its corresponding mean value in the control group.

Upon dividing the obese females group according to a fasting plasma insulin value (FPI) of 26 ?IU / ml into two subgroups, the group with FPI ? 26 ?IU / ml showed a statistically significant higher sVCAM-1 mean value when compared to the group with FPI <26?IU / ml.

Statistically significant positive correlations were found between plasma sVCAM-1 and each of triglycerides, insulin, as well as HOMA-IR in the obese females group.

Furthermore, another statistically significant positive correlation existed between waist to hip ratio and the common carotid artery intima media thickness in the same group.

Conclusion : from this work, it could be concluded that sVCAM-1 plasma level, initially taken as a monitor of ECD, could be a potentially useful marker that correlates with the degree of insulin resistance in obese premenopausal females.