Background: Although hypertriglyceridemic waist (HW) phenotype has received much attention over recent years for its association with other metabolic abnormalities, it remains unknown whether its effects are mediated through changes in plasma concentrations of inflammatory markers. We aimed to evaluate the association between hypertriglyceridemic waist (HW) phenotype and markers of systemic inflammation and endothelial dysfunction among women.

Methods: Anthropometric and biochemical measurements were assessed in a cross-sectional study of 507 Iranian women aged 40-60 years. HW phenotype was defined as serum triacylglycerol concentration ≥150 mg/dl and concurrent waist circumference ≥89.

Results: The prevalence of hypertriglyceridemic waist (HW) phenotype was 32.2% (95% CI: 28.7, 35.7) among women. Individuals with HW phenotype had higher anthropometric measures, were older and less physically active. After control for potential confounding variables, women in different categories of WC had significantly different levels of CRP (WC main effect: P=0.001), TNF-α (P=0.01), IL-6 (P=0.001), E-selectin (P=0.007), sICAM-1 (P=0.01) and sVCAM-1 (P=0.02, 2-factor ANOVA for all). When the models were further adjusted for BMI, the difference in sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 ceased to be significant. Significant differences in CRP (TG main effect: P=0.01), TNF-α (P=0.008), SAA (P=0.03), IL-6 (P=0.01), E-selectin (P=0.02) and sICAM-1 (P=0.01, 2-factor ANOVA for all) were found between categories of TG concentration after control for confounders. Most of these differences remained significant even after additional adjustments for BMI, except for E-selectin. There was a significant interaction between WC and TG concentration with regard to CRP, IL-6, SAA, and E-selectin.

Conclusion: This study provides evidence showing a positive association between HW phenotype and markers of systemic inflammation and endothelial dysfunction.