Department of Pathophysiology, Silesian University School of Medicine, 40-752 Katowice, Poland

Correspondence to: B Zahorska-Markiewicz, Department of Pathophysiology, Medykow 18, 40-752 Katowice, Poland.

OBJECTIVE: To study whether weight reducing treatment modulates serum concentration of TNF- and two soluble TNF- receptors in obese subjects.

SUBJECTS AND MEASUREMENTS: Serum concentrations of TNF- and two soluble receptors (sTNF-R1, sTNF-R2), plasma glucose, insulin, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and triglicerides were measured in 27 obese subjects (age 48±12 y, body mass index (BMI): 36±6 kg/m²) before and after 3 months weight reducing treatment consisted of a diet & 1000 kcal/day and physical exercises.

RESULTS: The mean loss of weight during 3 months' treatment was 9.3±3.3 kg. The serum concentration of TNF- decreased after weight loss and at the same time both of the receptors (sTNF-R1,sTNF-R2) increased significantly.

CONCLUSION: The observed decrease of the serum concentration of TNF- and the increase in both TNF soluble receptors after weight reducing treatment in obese subjects, may be a counter-regulation preventing further weight loss.

International Journal of Obesity (2000) 24, 1392-1395

obesity; TNF; soluble TNF receptors