Abstract

MANZUR, Fernando; ALVEAR, Ciro  and  ALAYON, Alicia Norma. Adipocytes, visceral obesity, inflammation and cardiovascular disease. Rev. Colom. Cardiol. [online]. 2010, vol.17, n.5, pp.207-213. ISSN 0120-5633.

Worldwide obesity is an important health problem that results from the combination of genetic factors, inadequate food intake and lack of regular physical activity. Intake of a high energy-dense diet is the main cause of visceral and central obesity, since energy excess is stored in adipocytes that increase in size and/or number, especially visceral adipocytes, causing an increment in lipolysis rate that in turn stimulates the cytokines secretion from leucocytes, macrophages and adipocytes, leading to a pro-inflammatory state, insulin resistance and endothelial dysfunction. This endothelial dysfunction favored by the inflammatory process can be the connecting bond between obesity and cardiovascular disease. Thus, adipose tisssue dysfunction constitutes the ethio-pathogenic mechanism in the development of cardiovascular disease, initiated by visceral obesity.

Keywords : adipocytes; intra-abdominal fat; adipokines; inflammation; cardiovascular diseases.

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