ORIGINAL RESEARCH PAPER A 12-week regimen of caloric restriction improves levels of adipokines and pro-inflammatory cytokines in Korean women with BMIs greater than 23 kg/m 2 In Seok Lee • Gina Shin • Ryowon Choue Received: 11 May 2009 / Revised: 18 October 2009 / Accepted: 26 October 2009 / Published online: 16 November 2009 Ó Birkha ¨user Verlag, Basel/Switzerland 2009 Abstract Introduction Adipose tissue mass (ATM) is an important source of adipokines. Increases in ATM contribute to chronic low-grade inflammation characterized by high levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. We investigated the effects of body fat reduction on blood levels of adipokines and pro-inflammatory cytokines in Korean women with BMIs [ 23 kg/m 2 . Methods A total of 46 healthy women participated in the study. A registered dietician supervised the subjects as they conformed to a program of caloric restriction during a 12- week experimental period. Anthropometric assessments were carried out, and blood levels of lipids, adipokines, and pro-inflammatory cytokines were analyzed at the beginning and the end of the experiment. Results Body weight and body fat mass decreased signifi- cantly in our subjects after 12 weeks of caloric restriction (p \ 0.001). Blood levels of triacylglycerol were signifi- cantly reduced in accordance with body fat reduction. However, the other blood lipid parameters were unchanged. Adipokine, leptin, and visfatin levels decreased signifi- cantly, while adiponectin increased significantly (p \ 0.05). Levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-a and IFN-c were significantly reduced (p \ 0.05). Conclusions Our results indicate that body fat reduction via caloric restriction positively affects the blood levels of adipokines and pro-inflammatory cytokines. Keywords Calorie restriction Á Fat mass Á Adipokines Á Pro-inflammatory cytokines Á Korean Introduction Adipose tissue is an important source of adipokines, including leptin, adiponectin, resistin, and visfatin, which are related to metabolic diseases such as diabetes mellitus and obesity [1]. Increases in adipose tissue mass are nor- mally accompanied by chronic low-grade inflammation [2, 3]. Long-term, low-grade inflammation contributes to the development of metabolic diseases [4–7]. Leptin plays a key role in regulating appetite and metabolism. In the immune system, this adipokine protects T-lymphocytes from apoptosis, increases the proliferation of naive T-cells, and reduces numbers of memory T-cells [8, 9]. Adiponectin is known for its role in the regulation of insulin sensitivity and is significantly reduced in type 2 diabetes [9, 10]. Resistin confers resistance to insulin [11] and exhibits pro-inflammatory action [12]. Visfatin is the most recently identified adipokine, appears to be preferen- tially produced by visceral adipose tissue, and has pro- inflammatory effects [13]. Altered levels of systemic and local adipokines have been reported for a variety of inflammatory states. Adipose tissue also secretes pro-inflammatory cytokines, namely TNF-a, IL-6, and IL-10, which are associated with other adipokines such as adiponectin. TNF-a, which is Responsible Editor: C. Kasserra. I. S. Lee Á G. Shin Á R. Choue (&) Department of Medical Nutrition, Graduate School of East-West Medical Science, Kyung Hee University, Seocheon-dong, Giheung-gu, Yongin, Gyeonggi-do 446-701, Korea e-mail: rwcho@khu.ac.kr I. S. Lee e-mail: inseok77@gmail.com R. Choue Research Institute of Clinical Nutrition, Kyung Hee University, Heikidong, Seoul 130-701, Korea Inflamm. Res. (2010) 59:399–405 DOI 10.1007/s00011-009-0113-8 Inflammation Research