Inflammatory Biomarkers and Physical Function in Older, Obese Adults with Knee Pain and Self-Reported Osteoarthritis After Intensive Weight-Loss Therapy

  1. Gary D. Miller PhD,
  2. Barbara J. Nicklas PhD,
  3. Richard F. Loeser MD

Article first published online: 29 FEB 2008

DOI: 10.1111/j.1532-5415.2007.01636.x

Issue

Journal of the American Geriatrics Society

Journal of the American Geriatrics Society

Volume 56, Issue 4, pages 644–651, April 2008

Additional Information

How to Cite

Miller, G. D., Nicklas, B. J. and Loeser, R. F. (2008), Inflammatory Biomarkers and Physical Function in Older, Obese Adults with Knee Pain and Self-Reported Osteoarthritis After Intensive Weight-Loss Therapy. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 56: 644–651. doi: 10.1111/j.1532-5415.2007.01636.x

Author Information

  1. From the *Department of Health and Exercise Science, Winston-Salem, North Carolina†Department of Internal Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina‡Section of Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

*Address correspondence to Gary D. Miller, PhD, RD, Box 7868 Reynolda Station, Department Health and Exercise Science, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC 27109-7868. E-mail: millergd@wfu.edu

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 29 FEB 2008
  2. Article first published online: 29 FEB 2008

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Keywords:

  • physical function;
  • weight loss;
  • inflammatory biomarkers;
  • older adults;
  • osteoarthritis

OBJECTIVES: To describe the relationships between proinflammatory biomarkers and self-reported and performance-based physical function and to examine the effect of weight loss on these markers of inflammation.

DESIGN: Randomized, longitudinal, clinical study comparing subjects eating an energy-restricted diet and participating in exercise training with a control group.

SETTING: Community-base participants for the Physical Activity, Inflamation and Body Composition Trial.

PARTICIPANTS: Eighty-seven obese (body mass index (BMI) >30.0 kg/m2) adults aged 60 and older with knee pain and self-report of osteoarthritis.

MEASUREMENTS: Inflammatory biomarkers (interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα), C-reactive protein, and soluble receptors for TNFα (sTNFR1 and sTNFR2)) and self-reported (Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index questionnaire) and performance-based (6-minute walk distance and stair climb time) measures of physical function at baseline and 6 months.

RESULTS: Mean (standard error of the mean) weight loss was 8.7% (0.8%) in the intervention group, compared with 0.0% (0.7%) in the control group. sTNFR1 was significantly less in the intervention group than in the control group at 6 months. sTNFR1 and sTNFR2 predicted stair climb time at baseline. Change across the 6-month intervention for sTNFR2 was an independent predictor for change in 6-minute walk distance.

CONCLUSION: These results indicate that an intensive weight-loss intervention in older obese adults with knee pain can help improve inflammatory biomarkers and that changes in these concentrations showed associations with physical function.

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