Serum Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha (TNF-α) Levels in Obese and Overweight Adults: Correlations With Metabolic Syndrome and Inflammatory Markers

Background: Overweight and obesity are escalating public health concerns globally, and India is also experiencing a significant rise in the population of overweight and obese people. Tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) is a type of cytokine that has garnered attention in particularly obesity-related metabolic disturbances. This study aimed to assess TNF-α levels in overweight and obese adults and explore its correlation with metabolic syndrome and associated biochemical parameters in the northeastern Indian population.

Methods: A comparative study was conducted involving 200 participants divided into four groups: 50 healthy controls, 50 overweight individuals, 50 obese individuals without metabolic syndrome and 50 obese individuals with metabolic syndrome. Serum TNF-α levels were measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. Anthropometric measurements and biochemical analyses, including glucose and lipid profiles, were performed using standard methods.

Results: TNF-α levels were significantly elevated in overweight individuals (128.5±35.7 pg/ml), obese individuals without metabolic syndrome (171.5±13.6 pg/ml), and obese individuals with metabolic syndrome (238.6±62 pg/ml) compared to normal subjects (controls; 21.7±11.8 pg/ml). Positive correlations were observed between TNF-α and body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), neck circumference, glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, and negative correlation was found high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C).

Conclusion: Elevated TNF-α levels in overweight and obese individuals suggest its role in metabolic disturbances and immune activation within the adipose tissue. These findings underscore the importance of monitoring TNF-α as a potential biomarker for metabolic syndrome risk, highlighting the need for targeted interventions in the northeastern Indian population to mitigate the health impacts of obesity and associated metabolic disorders.