Visual Abstract
Leaky gut contributes to metabolic syndrome. Zonulin is an intestinal protein that is involved in gut permeability. We aimed to assess the relationships between circulating zonulin and lipopolysaccharide (LPS), body composition, liver characteristics, and cytokines involved in obesity or liver disease.
Forty seven nondiabetic, euthyreotic adults were included: 12 with BMI <25 kg/m2, 11 with BMI 25-29.9 kg/m2 and 24 with BMI ≥30 kg/m2. They were divided into the “Lean” group of 15 F and 5 M with BMI <27.5 kg/m2 and “Obese” group of 21 F and 6 M with BMI >29 kg/m2.
Basic clinical parameters, total and visceral fat (bioimpedance; Tanita), liver steatosis and fibrosis (transient elastography; Fibroscan), as well as serum Sirtuin-1, Fetuin-A, Fatty Acid-Binding Protein 1 (FABP-1), Angiopoietin-like 4 (ANGPTL4) (all Fine Biotech Co.), Zonulin (DRG International), and LPS (Qayee Biotechnology Co.) were analyzed.
“Obese” subjects presented insulin resistance and liver injury. In the “Obese” serum zonulin was ~50% lower, whilst serum CRP and LPS significantly higher than in the “Lean." Serum zonulin was correlated inversely with BMI, total fat, liver fibrosis, serum CRP and LPS, but no studied cytokine (table 1).
Our data point to decreased circulating zonulin in obese subjects, indicative of leaky gut as implied by its associations with endotoxemia, microinflammation, fat accumulation, and fibrotic liver damage.
G. Wystrychowski: Other Relationship; Self; Roche Pharma. W. Grzeszczak: Other Relationship; Self; Berlin-Chemie AG, Roche Pharma. A. Witkowska: None. E. Wojtyna: None. A. Golda: Other Relationship; Self; Servier Laboratories. M. Wróbel: None. K. Bochenek: None. W. Trautsolt: None. S. Gorczynska-kosiorz: None. N. Szweda-gandor: None.
Medical University of Silesia (KNW-1-178/N/7/K, KNW-1-008/K/8/K)
