The comparative effect of two anti-inflammatory diets on Interleukin-6 levels and weight loss in overweight females

M.Tech. (Homoeopathy)Overweight and obesity is an excessive accumulation of fat and can be classified using the body mass index (BMI). Being overweight has a whole host of health-related risks, which includes metabolic syndrome and diabetes mellitus type II to name a few (Goedecke et al. 2005). Interleukin 6 (IL-6), secreted from the adipose tissue surrounding the waist line is responsible for a state of systemic chronic low level inflammation and plays a crucial role in the development of diseases associated with being overweight (Fantuzzi, 2005). Food sensitivities further contributes to this state of low level chronic inflammation. Symptoms of food sensitivities include, difficulty losing weight as well as over eating, which hinders weight loss in over weight individuals (Joyal, 2010). Anti-inflammatory diets such as the Mediterranean diet focuses on a diet rich in antiinflammatory foods, which is known to decrease chronic low level inflammation caused by being overweight and obese. (Galland, 2010). The aim of this study was to determine the comparative effect of the Mediterranean diet to a modified Mediterranean diet (excludes common food sensitivities) on the circulating levels of the inflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) in overweight females by measuring weight loss and IL-6 levels. The study was an experimental comparative study involving thirty female participants who were between the ages of 20-45 and were overweight (BMI 25-30 kg/m²). Potential participants attended an initial interview where they were screened by means of inclusion and exclusion criteria as well as a physical exam that included vitals, weight (kg), waist measurement (cm), hip-to-waist ratio and calculation of BMI. Individuals who met these criteria were sent for blood tests to measure their Interleukin 6 levels (IL-6). Those individuals with an IL-6 level of greater than 0.96pg/ml were then contacted to set up a first appointment. Participants were allocated to either the modified Mediterranean diet or to the Mediterranean diet using matched pairs. Participants attended a three week as well as a 6 week follow up to tract weight-loss progress