Possible Direct Influence of Complement 3 in Decreasing Insulin Sensitvity in a Cohort of Overweight and Obese Subjects

Title:Possible Direct Influence of Complement 3 in Decreasing Insulin Sensitvity in a Cohort of Overweight and Obese Subjects

Volume: 13 Issue: 4

Author(s): Giovanni De Pergola, Massimo Tartagni, Nicola Bartolomeo, Irene Bruno, Michele Masiello, Domenico Caccavo, Serena Bavaro and Franco Silvestris

Affiliation:

Keywords: Body fat distribution, complement 3, gender, inflammation, insulin, obesity, physical activity.

Abstract: A group of 608 apparently healthy patients, 136 men and 472 women, either overweight or obese, aged 18-69 years, were examined. BMI, waist circumference, fasting blood glucose (FBG), insulin, and complement 3 (C₃) serum levels were measured; the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA_IR) was used to evaluate insulin resistance; and physical activity was quantified by a questionnaire.

Results: HOMA_IR showed a positive correlation with BMI (r: 0.478, p < 0.001), waist circumference (r: 0.487, p < 0.001), and C₃ (r: 0.445, p < 0.001). Moreover, it was significantly associated with gender (F Fisher = 22.12, p < 0.001), and the mean HOMA_IR levels were significantly different among the three groups of physical activity, with the lowest level of insulin resistance at the highest level of physical activity (F=7,31, p < 0.001). A multiple regression analysis was carried out with HOMA_IR as the dependent variable and gender, age, BMI, waist circumference, C₃ and the level of physical activity as independent variables (fitted model: F = 41.24, P<0.001, R² = 0.328). HOMA_IR maintained an independent association with C₃ (β = 0.678, P<0.001), sex (β = 0.189, P<0.001), BMI (β = 0.637, P<0.01), and age (β = -0.004, P<0.05).

Conclusions: This study of a cohort of overweight and obese subjects has shown that insulin resistance (dependent variable) is positively associated with C₃ serum levels, independently of age, gender, anthropometric parameters and physical activity, suggesting that higher C₃ serum levels may directly increase insulin resistance in obesity.

Cite this article as:

Pergola De Giovanni, Tartagni Massimo, Bartolomeo Nicola, Bruno Irene, Masiello Michele, Caccavo Domenico, Bavaro Serena and Silvestris Franco, Possible Direct Influence of Complement 3 in Decreasing Insulin Sensitvity in a Cohort of Overweight and Obese Subjects, Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Disorders - Drug Targets 2013; 13 (4) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1871530314666140116111542