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. 2008 Jan;151(1):42-50.
doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2249.2007.03545.x. Epub 2007 Nov 15.

Serum levels of immunoglobulins (IgG, IgA, IgM) in a general adult population and their relationship with alcohol consumption, smoking and common metabolic abnormalities

A Gonzalez-Quintela  1 , R Alende, F Gude, J Campos, J Rey, L M Meijide, C Fernandez-Merino, C Vidal
Affiliations

Serum levels of immunoglobulins (IgG, IgA, IgM) in a general adult population and their relationship with alcohol consumption, smoking and common metabolic abnormalities

A Gonzalez-Quintela et al. Clin Exp Immunol. 2008 Jan.

Abstract

The present study investigated serum immunoglobulin (Ig) concentrations in relation to demographic factors, common habits (alcohol consumption and smoking) and metabolic abnormalities in an adult population-based survey including 460 individuals. Serum levels of interleukin (IL)-6, a marker of inflammation, were also determined. After adjusting for confounders, male sex was associated positively with IgA levels and negatively with IgM levels. Age was associated positively with IgA and IgG levels. Smoking was associated negatively with IgG levels. Heavy drinking was associated positively with IgA levels. Metabolic abnormalities (obesity and metabolic syndrome) were associated positively with IgA levels. Abdominal obesity and hypertriglyceridaemia were the components of metabolic syndrome associated most strongly with serum IgA. Heavy drinkers with metabolic syndrome showed particularly high serum IgA levels. Serum IL-6 levels were correlated positively with IgA and IgG concentrations. It is concluded that sex, age, alcohol consumption, smoking and common metabolic abnormalities should be taken into account when interpreting serum levels of IgA, IgG and IgM.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Histograms of serum immunoglobulin levels in the population studied. The calculation of means, medians, standard deviations (s.d.), 2·5th and 97·5th percentiles (P = 2·5 and P = 97·5, respectively) were weighted according to the study design.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Serum immunoglobulin levels in relation to sex and age strata. Serum immunoglobulin A (IgA) levels were higher in males than in females in all age strata (P < 0·001), and also tended to increase with age (P for trend < 0·001). Serum IgG levels were higher in females than in males in all age strata (P < 0·05), and tended to increase with age (P for trend < 0·001). Serum IgM were higher in females than in males in all age strata (P < 0·001), but showed no significant variation with age.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Serum immunoglobulin A (IgA) levels in relation to the number of metabolic syndrome criteria [23]. Serum IgA levels tended to increase as the number of criteria increased (P for trend < 0·001). *Criteria considered here included only abdominal obesity, hypertriglyceridaemia and hyperglycaemia, three of the five criteria of metabolic syndrome [23] that showed an independent association with serum IgA levels or a trend toward and association.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Serum immunoglobulin A (IgA) levels in relation to the presence of metabolic syndrome and heavy drinking. Serum IgA levels were increased in heavy drinkers and in patients with metabolic syndrome, but were particularly high in heavy drinkers with metabolic syndrome (P < 0·001 with respect to every other category).
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Serum immunoglobulin (Ig) levels in relation to serum levels of interleukin (IL)-6. Serum IgA and serum IgG tended to increase as the level of IL-6 increased (P for trend = 0·01 and 0·03, respectively).
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