A 12-week regimen of caloric restriction improves levels of adipokines and pro-inflammatory cytokines in Korean women with BMIs greater than 23 kg/m2.

INTRODUCTION

Adipose tissue mass (ATM) is an important source of adipokines. Increases in ATM contribute to chronic low-grade inflammation characterized by high levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. We investigated the effects of body fat reduction on blood levels of adipokines and pro-inflammatory cytokines in Korean women with BMIs >23 kg/m(2).

METHODS

A total of 46 healthy women participated in the study. A registered dietician supervised the subjects as they conformed to a program of caloric restriction during a 12-week experimental period. Anthropometric assessments were carried out, and blood levels of lipids, adipokines, and pro-inflammatory cytokines were analyzed at the beginning and the end of the experiment.

RESULTS

Body weight and body fat mass decreased significantly in our subjects after 12 weeks of caloric restriction (p < 0.001). Blood levels of triacylglycerol were significantly reduced in accordance with body fat reduction. However, the other blood lipid parameters were unchanged. Adipokine, leptin, and visfatin levels decreased significantly, while adiponectin increased significantly (p < 0.05). Levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma were significantly reduced (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results indicate that body fat reduction via caloric restriction positively affects the blood levels of adipokines and pro-inflammatory cytokines.