Platelet activation in obese women: role of inflammation and oxidant stress.

Context Obesity, in particular abdominal adiposity, is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality through mechanisms possibly linking the metabolic disorder to platelet and vascular abnormalities.

Objective To investigate the clinical and biochemical determinants of lipid peroxidation and platelet activation in obese women.

Design, Setting, and Participants Cross-sectional comparison, conducted between September 1999 and September 2001, of urinary 8-iso prostaglandin F-2alpha (8-iso PGF(2alpha)) and 11-dehydrothromboxane B-2 (11-dehyhdro-TxB(2)) excretion levels in 93 women: 44 with a body mass index (BMI) higher than 28 and a waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) of 0.86 or higher, android obesity; 25 with a BMI higher than 28 and a WHR lower than 0.86, gynoid obesity; and 24 nonobese women with a BMI lower than 25. An additional study was conducted to determine the short-term effects of weight loss in 20 of the 44 women with android obesity.

Intervention During a 12-week period, 20 women with android obesity followed a weight loss program to reduce caloric intake to about 1200 kcal/d.

Main Outcome Measures Plasma C-reactive protein, insulin and leptin levels, and urinary 8-iso PGF(2alpha) (marker of in vivo lipid peroxidation) and 11-dehyhdro-TxB(2) (marker of in vivo platelet activation) excretion. Weight loss was defined as successful when the initial body weight decreased by at least 5 kg after a 12-week period of caloric restriction.

Results Women with android obesity had higher levels of 8-iso PGF(2alpha) (median [interquartile range {IQR}] 523 [393-685] vs 187 [140-225] pg/mg creatinine) and 11 dehyhdro-TxB(2) (median [IQR], 948 [729-1296] vs 215 [184-253] pg/mg creatinine) than nonobese women (P<.001). Both 8-iso PGF(2alpha) and 11-dehyhdro-TxB(2) were higher in women with android obesity than women with gynoid obesity (P<.001). Based on multiple regression analysis, C-reactive protein levels and WHRs of 0.86 or higher predicted the rate of 8-iso PGF(2alpha) excretion independently of insulin and leptin levels. Of 20 women with android obesity, 11 achieved successful weight loss, which was associated with statistically significant reductions in C-reactive protein (median change, 23%; P<.05), 8-iso PGF(2alpha) (median change, 32%; P=.04) and 11-dehydro-TxB(2) (median change, 54%; P=.005).

Conclusions Android obesity is associated with enhanced lipid peroxidation and persistent platelet activation. These abnormalities are driven by inflammatory triggers related to the degree of abdominal adiposity and are, at least in part, reversible with a successful weight-loss program.