SERUM TRANSFORMING GROWTH FACTOR β (TGF-β) IS ASSOCIATED WITH BODY MASS INDEX IN HEALTHY WOMEN

Background. Elevated serum transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) is associated with diabetes, cancers and several other diseases in numerous studies. However, there are a few studies reporting the possible relationship between serum TGF-beta and obesity indices in apparently healthy individuals. In the present study we examined the possible relationship between body mass index (BMI), fasting serum glucose, lipid profile and liver enzymes in healthy women. Materials and methods. A total of 84 women (BMI 30.12 +/- 5.74 kg/m(2)) were investigated. Anthropometric variables (weight, height, waist circumference and hip circumference) were measured in participants and BMI and waist to hip ratio (WHR) were calculated. Serum concentrations of TGF-beta, fasting serum glucose (FSG), serum lipids and liver enzymes were assayed by commercial Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits. Results. Among anthropometric variables, BMI and WC were potent positive predictors of serum TGF-beta in stepwise multiple linear regression model (P<0.05). Serum ALT concentration was also positively correlated with serum TGF-beta after adjustment for age and other biochemical variables (P = 0.031). In simple correlation analysis, serum TGF-beta was positively associated with fat mass and negatively with fat free mass (P < 0.05). Conclusions. Our study confirms that serum TGF-beta concentration is associated with indices of both general (BMI) and central obesity (WC), fat mass and liver enzyme in healthy Iranian women. Further studies are needed to possibly confirm these findings and to explore underlying mechanisms.