Adenovirus 36 seropositivity is strongly associated with race and gender, but not obesity, among US military personnel

• Published in: International Journal of Obesity 2010-02, Vol.34 (2), p.302-308
• Main Authors: Broderick, M.P, Hansen, C.J, Irvine, M, Metzgar, D, Campbell, K, Baker, C, Russell, K.L
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adenoviridae; Adenovirus; Adenovirus 36; Adenovirus Infections, Human - blood; Adenovirus Infections, Human - ethnology; Adenovirus Infections, Human - virology; Adenoviruses; Adenoviruses, Human - immunology; Adolescent; Adult; age; Antibodies; Antibodies, Viral - blood; assays; Bacterial infections; behavior; Biological and medical sciences; blood serum; Body Mass Index; Calories; Case-Control Studies; Cholesterol; Cholesterol - blood; Demographics; Epidemiology; Exercise; Exposure; Fasting - blood; Female; Gender; gender differences; Health aspects; Health Promotion and Disease Prevention; Health surveillance; Humans; Infections; Infectious diseases; Internal Medicine; Male; Medical research; Medical sciences; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; men; Metabolic Diseases; Metabolism; Military; Military aspects; Military Personnel; Neutralization; Obesity; Obesity - blood; Obesity - virology; original-article; Physical fitness; Physiological aspects; Public Health; Questionnaires; Race; races; Respiratory diseases; Risk factors; seroprevalence; Stem cells; Surveys and Questionnaires; triacylglycerols; Triglycerides; Triglycerides - blood; United States - epidemiology; Viral antibodies; Viral diseases; viral diseases of animals and humans; Weight control; women; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0307-0565; 1476-5497
• DOI: 10.1038/ijo.2009.224

Background: Although several studies have shown a positive association between evidence of anti-adenovirus 36 (Ad-36) antibodies (Ad-36 exposure) and (1) obesity and (2) serum cholesterol in animals, there is limited research demonstrating this association in humans. There is also limited research on transmission, presentation and demographics of Ad-36 infection. Design: (1) Body mass (body mass index (BMI)), (2) fasting serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels and (3) demographic characteristics were compared between Ad-36 seropositive and seronegative groups. The majority of subjects were matched as cases versus controls on a number of demographic variables. Subjects: A total of 150 obese and 150 lean active-duty military personnel were studied. Measurements: Subjects completed a questionnaire regarding demographic and behavioral characteristics. Subject serum samples were tested by serum neutralization assay for the presence of anti-Ad-36 antibodies. Results: In all, 34% of obese and 39% of lean subjects had Ad-36 exposure, an insignificant difference. Serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels were significantly higher among the obese subjects than among the lean, but there were no associations between serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels and Ad-36 exposure. Positive associations were found between Ad-36 exposure and age, race and gender. Conclusion: The study stands in contrast to previous work that has shown a positive relationship between Ad-36 exposure and (1) obesity, and (2) levels of serum cholesterol and triglycerides. In this study there was no association in either case. Unanticipated relationships between Ad-36 exposure and age, race and gender were found, and this is the first time that such a link between Ad-36 exposure and demographics has been found.