Oxidative Stress Is Associated with Adiposity and Insulin Resistance in Men

Abstract

To investigate the direct relationship of oxidative stress with obesity and insulin resistance in men, we measured the plasma levels of 8-epi-prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) in 14 obese and 17 nonobese men and evaluated their relationship with body mass index; body fat weight; visceral, sc, and total fat areas, measured by computed tomography; and glucose infusion rate during a euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp study.

Obese men had significantly higher plasma concentrations of 8-epi-PGF2α than nonobese men (P < 0.05). The plasma levels of 8-epi-PGF2α were significantly correlated with body mass index (r = 0.408; P < 0.05), body fat weight (r = 0.467; P < 0.05), visceral (r = 0.387; P < 0.05) and total fat area (r = 0.359; P < 0.05) in all (obese and nonobese) men. There was also a significant correlation between the plasma levels of 8-epi-PGF2α and glucose infusion rate in obese men (r = −0.552; P < 0.05) and all men (r = −0.668; P < 0.01). In all subjects, the plasma levels of 8-epi-PGF2α were significantly correlated with fasting serum levels of insulin (r = 0.487; P < 0.01).

In brief, these findings showed that the circulating levels of 8-epi-PGF2α are related to adiposity and insulin resistance in men. Although correlation does not prove causation, the results of this study suggest that obesity is an important factor for enhanced oxidative stress and that this oxidative stress triggers the development of insulin resistance in men.