Relationship between alpha-2-macroglobulin, anthropometric parameters and lipid profiles in Thai overweight and obese in Bangkok

The aim of this study was to assess anthropometric variables and the lipid pattern in relation to alpha-2-macroglobulin in normal- and over-nourished Thai individuals, to further support the hypothesis that alpha-2-macroglobulin plays a beneficial role in the determination of nutritional status. The study sample comprised of 48 male and 166 female overweight and obese Thai volunteers and 26 male and 81 female normal subjects. The overweight individuals had statistically significant lower alpha-2-macroglobulin (A2M) serum levels. The total serum cholesterol, low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) and triglycerides were significantly higher and high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) lower in the over-nourished group as compared with the normal subjects. The LDL/HDL ratio was slightly but significantly higher in the over-nourished group, but still well below the value of 5 for both groups. In using a stepwise multiple linear regression, the model, which best explained the variation of A2M for all individuals including age, HDL-C, BMI, and gender. The relationship of A2M to the variables under study differed between males and females. For males, a model which includes cholesterol and BMI explained best the variation of the proteinase inhibitor. For the females, the best model includes age, HDL-C and BMI. The role of protease inhibitors has hardly been explored in human epidemiological studies despite its relationship to important public health issues including nutrition, smoking, cancer and cardiovascular diseases. The results of this study further support the hypothesis, that A2M might play a role in the interrelationship of the nutritional status with the occurrence and the prevention of diseases.