Adherence to the Mediterranean diet as a possible additional tool to be used for screening the metabolically unhealthy obesity (MUO) phenotype.
The terms metabolically healthy obesity (MHO) and metabolically unhealthy obesity (MUO) categorize subjects with obesity based on the presence or absence of cardio-metabolic risk factors. Detecting MUO phenotype is crucial due to the high risk of cardio-metabolic complications, requiring tailored and intensive follow-up. However, diagnosing MUO is time-consuming and costly. Thus, we aimed to investigate the role of Mediterranean diet (MD) in determining MHO/MUO phenotypes and whether adherence to MD could serve as an additional screening tool for MUO phenotype.
The study population of this cross-sectional observational study consisted of 275 subjects with obesity. We assessed their lifestyle habits (physical activity and smoking habits), anthropometric measurements (weight, height, waist circumference, body mass index), blood pressure, metabolic parameters, inflammatory marker (high sensitivity C reactive protein levels), adherence to MD (by PREvención con DIetaMEDiterránea (PREDIMED) questionnaire), and MHO/MUO phenotypes.
The study included 275 individuals with obesity (256F/19M; 34.0 ± 10.5 years; BMI 38.3 ± 5.95 kg/m2). Among them, 114 (41.5%) exhibited MHO phenotype, while 161 (58.5%) had MUO phenotype. MHO phenotype exhibited favorable anthropometric and cardio-metabolic profiles, characterized by lower waist circumference (p < 0.001), BMI (p < 0.001), insulin resistance (p < 0.001), blood pressure (p < 0.001), inflammation (p < 0.001), and lipid levels (p < 0.001) compared to MUO phenotype. Notably, we found that MHO phenotype had higher adherence to MD (p < 0.001) and consumed more extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) (p < 0.001), vegetables (p < 0.001), fruits (p < 0.001), legumes (p = 0.001), fish (p < 0.001), wine (p = 0.008), and nuts (p = 0.001), while reporting lower intake of red/processed meats (p < 0.001), butter, cream, margarine (p = 0.008), soda drinks (p = 0.006), and commercial sweets (p = 0.002) compared to MUO phenotype. Adherence to MD (p < 0.001) and EVOO (p = 0.015) intake were identified as influential factors in determining the presence of MUO/MHO phenotypes. Furthermore, a PREDIMED score < 5 proved to be the most sensitive and specific cut-point value for predicting the presence of MUO phenotype (p < 0.001).
High adherence to MD was associated with MHO phenotype. Moreover, we suggest that a specific cut-off of the PREDIMED score could be an indicator to discriminate patients with MUO/MHO phenotypes and therefore help in identifying patients at higher cardiovascular risk who will require specific dietary intervention.
Barrea L
,Verde L
,Simancas-Racines D
,Zambrano AK
,Frias-Toral E
,Colao A
,Savastano S
,Muscogiuri G
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《Journal of Translational Medicine》
Alterations in nonesterified free fatty acid trafficking rather than hyperandrogenism contribute to metabolic health in obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome.
To determine whether alterations in nonesterified fatty acid (NEFA) dynamics or degree of hyperandrogenism (HA) contribute to the difference in insulin sensitivity between women with metabolically healthy obese polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) (MHO-PCOS) and women with metabolically unhealthy obese PCOS (MUO-PCOS).
Prospective cross-sectional study.
Tertiary-care academic center.
One hundred twenty-five obese women with PCOS.
Consecutive obese (body mass index [BMI] ≥ 30 kg/m2) oligo-ovulatory women (n = 125) with PCOS underwent an oral glucose tolerance test and a subgroup of 16 participants underwent a modified frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test to determine insulin-glucose and -NEFA dynamics.
Degree of insulin resistance (IR) in adipose tissue (AT) basally (Adipo-IR) and dynamically (the nadir in NEFA levels observed [NEFAnadir], the time it took for NEFA levels to reach nadir [TIMEnadir], and the percent suppression in plasma NEFA levels from baseline to nadir [%NEFAsupp]); peak lipolysis rate (SNEFA) and peak rate of NEFA disposal from plasma pool (KNEFA); whole-body insulin-glucose interaction (acute response of insulin to glucose [AIRg], insulin sensitivity index [Si], glucose effectiveness [Sg], and disposition index [Di]); and HA (hirsutism score, total and free testosterone levels, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate levels).
A total of 85 (68%) women were MUO-PCOS and 40 (32%) were MHO-PCOS using the homeostasis model of assessment of IR. Subjects with MUO-PCOS and MHO-PCOS did not differ in mean age, BMI, waist-to-hip ratio, HA, and lipoprotein levels. By a modified frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test, eight women with MUO-PCOS had lesser Si, KNEFA, and the percent suppression in plasma NEFA levels from baseline to nadir (%NEFAsupp) and greater TIMEnadir, NEFAnadir, and baseline adipose tissue IR index (Adipo-IR) than eight subjects with MHO-PCOS, but similar fasting NEFA levels and SNEFA. Women with MUO-PCOS had a higher homeostasis model of assessment-β% and fasting insulin levels than women with MHO-PCOS. In bivalent analysis, Si correlated strongly and negatively with Adipo-IR and NEFAnadir, weakly and negatively with TIMEnadir, and positively with KNEFA and %NEFAsupp, in women with MUO-PCOS only.
Independent of age and BMI, women with MUO-PCOS have reduced NEFA uptake and altered insulin-mediated NEFA suppression, but no difference in HA, compared with women with MHO-PCOS. Altered insulin-mediated NEFA suppression, rather than HA or lipolysis rate, contributes to variations in insulin sensitivity among obese women with PCOS.
Ezeh U
,Chen YI
,Pall M
,Buyalos RP
,Chan JL
,Pisarska MD
,Azziz R
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Prevalence of polycystic ovary syndrome in Chinese obese women of reproductive age with or without metabolic syndrome.
To compare the prevalence of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and related clinical characteristics between metabolically unhealthy obese (MUO) and metabolically healthy obese (MHO) women of reproductive age.
Cross-sectional clinical study.
Tertiary hospital.
We studied 299 MUO and 122 MHO Chinese women matched on body mass index. Metabolically healthy obese was defined as obesity with no more than one metabolic abnormality. Diagnosis of PCOS was based on the revised Rotterdam criteria.
Each subject underwent physical examination, laboratory evaluation, and gynecologic ultrasound for a diagnosis of PCOS or metabolic syndrome (MetS).
Prevalence of PCOS was calculated in both groups. Insulin resistance was determined by homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance or by the insulin sensitivity index derived from Bergman's minimal model. Fat distribution was measured with computerized tomography scan.
Prevalence of PCOS and its components did not differ between MUO and BMI-matched MHO groups (67.89% and 66.96%, respectively). In logistic regression analysis, MetS did not predict the presence of PCOS after adjusting for confounding factors. The MHO group had lower visceral adipose tissue, relatively higher insulin sensitivity, and better β-cell function, compared with those in the MUO group; but there were no significant differences in sex hormones (except for free T and sex hormone-binding globulin) and ultrasound manifestations between MHO and MUO women.
For the first time, our findings suggest that MetS does not add additional risk for PCOS. In addition, we found that both MUO and MHO are associated with insulin resistance to some extent.
Liang P
,Xi L
,Shi J
,Li W
,Zhao S
,Deng Y
,Wang R
,Sun Y
,Gu B
,Yuan L
,Zhang Y
,Gu W
,Wang W
,Hong J
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