Results:

On bivariate analysis some, but not all, definitions of MHO led to significantly lower levels of IL-6, TNF-α and CRP compared with non-MH obese subjects. Most of these differences became nonsignificant after multivariate analysis. An posteriori analysis showed a statistical power between 9 and 79%, depending on the inflammatory biomarker and MHO definition considered. Further increasing sample size to overweight+ obese individuals (BMI⩾ 25 kg/m 2, n= 2917) showed metabolically healthy status to be significantly associated with lower levels of CRP, while no association was found for IL-1β. Significantly lower IL-6 and TNF-α levels were also found with some but not all MHO definitions, the differences in IL-6 becoming nonsignificant after adjusting for abdominal obesity or percent body fat.

Conclusions:

MHO individuals present with decreased levels of CRP and, depending on MHO definition, also with decreased levels in IL-6 and TNF-α. Conversely, no association with IL-1β levels was found.