Serum Oxidative Status in People with Obesity: Relation to Tissue Losses, Glucose Levels, and Weight Reduction

Abstract

Background: This work aims to study the effect of reductions in various body mass components on the oxidative, glycemic, and lipid parameters of people with obesity (PWO).

Methods: A total of 53 PWO underwent a six-month individualized low-calorie diet combined with moderate exercise, during which anthropometric, biochemical, and oxidative parameters were measured. Probands were divided into groups based on weight, visceral fat area (VFA), total body water (TBW), and skeletal muscle mass (SMM) losses.

Results: Weight reduction normalizes glycemia, but VFA reduction is less pronounced, while SMM and TBW reductions are more pronounced in patients with higher initial concentrations of glucose and fructosamine. Moreover, changes in oxidative parameters correlate with changes in glucose.

Conclusions: Weight loss, regardless of the reduced tissue, decreases cardiovascular risk. We observed a significant change in almost all parameters related to the redox state. In general, parameters responsible for antioxidant action improved, and markers of oxidative damage decreased. Malondialdehyde, lipid peroxides, and total oxidative status levels can be considered biomarkers reflecting only the current severity of reactive oxygen species genesis processes. When considering the glycemic state, the results are not as clear due to the substantial differences between normoglycemic and hyperglycemic patients. Glycemic status is a factor playing a crucial role in weight reduction.

Keywords: bioimpedance; glycemia; oxidative status; weight loss.

Figure 1

Study population. Legend: BMI—body mass index.

Figure 2

Parameters related to carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in obese patients enrolled in the study. Legend: HOMA-IR—Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance; t-CH—total cholesterol; HDL-CH—cholesterol in high-density lipoproteins; LDL-CH—cholesterol in low-density lipoproteins; AIP—atherogenic index of plasma.

Figure 3

Antioxidant parameter levels related to specific compartment loss during the weight reduction program. Legend: SOD—superoxide dismutase; MnSOD—mitochondrial Mn-dependent superoxide dismutase; CuZnSOD—cytosolic Cu, Zn superoxide dismutase; MDA—malondialdehyde; LPS—lipofuscin; PSH—protein sulfhydryl groups; TAC—total non-enzymatic antioxidant capacity; TOS—total oxidant status; LPH—lipid peroxides; OSI—oxidative stress index.

Figure 4

Changes in oxidative state—related parameters in normoglycemic and hyperglycemic patients during the weight reduction program. Legend: NG—normoglycemia patients; HG—hyperglycemia patients; WL—weight loss; VFA—visceral fat area; TBW—total body water; SMM—skeletal muscle mass; FRU—fructosamine; PROT—proteins; SOD—superoxide dismutase; MnSOD—mitochondrial Mn-dependent superoxide dismutase; CuZnSOD—cytosolic Cu, Zn superoxide dismutase; MDA—malondialdehyde; LPS—lipofuscin; PSH—protein sulfhydryl groups; CER—ceruloplasmin; TAC—total non-enzymatic antioxidant capacity; TOS—total oxidant status; LPH—lipid peroxides.