Is there a healthy obese subtype in cohort undergoing test for endothelial dysfunction

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether there existed a healthy obese subtype. METHODS: A total of 116 healthy subjects were recruited. They were divided into 3 groups according to BMI and metabolic disorders: 40 cases of normal weight and metabolic normality (NMN), 36 cases of obesity and metabolic normality (OMN) and 40 cases of obesity and metabolic abnormality (OMA). Anthropometic parameters as height, weight, waist circumference, hip circumference and blood pressure was recorded. Blood glucose, lipids, insulin, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) was detected. Body fat distribution was detected by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Serum von Willebrand factor (vWF), a marker of endothelial dysfunction, were detected by ELISA. RESULTS: Both serum vWF levels in OMN group [(733.6 ± 86.2)U/L] and OMA group[(809.2 ± 46.3)U/L] are higher than that in NMN group[(466.9 ± 65.3)U/L, P < 0.05] with serum vWF level in OMA group is higher than in OMN group (P < 0.05). Among android fat mass percentage (AFM%), BMI, waist height ratio, waist circumference, hs-CRP, weight, hip circumference and trunk fat mass, AFM%, BMI and hs-CRP are main influencing factors of vWF. CONCLUSIONS: Endothelial dysfunction existed in obese adults regardless of their metabolic status. There is no healthy obese subtype. AFM%, BMI and hs-CRP are the main influencing factors of endothelial dysfunction.