Low Muscle and High Fat Percentages Are Associated with Low Natural Killer Cell Activity: A Cross-Sectional Study
- Journal
- International Journal of Molecular Sciences
- Date
- 6 August 2023
- Vol
- 24(15)
- Page
- 12505
- Year
- 2023
- Link
- https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms241512505 260회 연결
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate whether body fat and muscle percentages are associated with natural killer cell activity (NKA). This was a cross-sectional study, conducted on 8058 subjects in a medical center in Korea. The association between the muscle and fat percentage tertiles and a low NKA, defined as an interferon-gamma level lower than 500 pg/mL, was assessed. In both men and women, the muscle mass and muscle percentage were significantly low in participants with a low NKA, whereas the fat percentage, white blood cell count, and C-reactive protein (CRP) level were significantly high in those with a low NKA. Compared with the lowest muscle percentage tertile as a reference, the fully adjusted odd ratios (ORs) (95% confidence intervals (CIs)) for a low NKA were significantly lower in T2 (OR: 0.69; 95% CI: 0.55–0.86) and T3 (OR: 0.74; 95% CI: 0.57–0.95) of men, and T3 (OR: 0.76; 95% CI: 0.59–0.99) of women. Compared with the lowest fat percentage tertile as a reference, the fully adjusted OR was significantly higher in T3 of men (OR: 1.31; 95% CI: 1.01–1.69). A high muscle percentage was significantly inversely associated with a low NKA in men and women, whereas a high fat percentage was significantly associated with a low NKA in men.
This study aimed to investigate whether body fat and muscle percentages are associated with natural killer cell activity (NKA). This was a cross-sectional study, conducted on 8058 subjects in a medical center in Korea. The association between the muscle and fat percentage tertiles and a low NKA, defined as an interferon-gamma level lower than 500 pg/mL, was assessed. In both men and women, the muscle mass and muscle percentage were significantly low in participants with a low NKA, whereas the fat percentage, white blood cell count, and C-reactive protein (CRP) level were significantly high in those with a low NKA. Compared with the lowest muscle percentage tertile as a reference, the fully adjusted odd ratios (ORs) (95% confidence intervals (CIs)) for a low NKA were significantly lower in T2 (OR: 0.69; 95% CI: 0.55–0.86) and T3 (OR: 0.74; 95% CI: 0.57–0.95) of men, and T3 (OR: 0.76; 95% CI: 0.59–0.99) of women. Compared with the lowest fat percentage tertile as a reference, the fully adjusted OR was significantly higher in T3 of men (OR: 1.31; 95% CI: 1.01–1.69). A high muscle percentage was significantly inversely associated with a low NKA in men and women, whereas a high fat percentage was significantly associated with a low NKA in men.