levels of inflammation in the central nervous system, and levels of cholesterol and triglycerides.
They found that obese patients have higher levels of two proteins that promote inflammation — interleukin-6 and leptin, which is produced by fat cells. Excessively heavy patients also had lower levels of interleukin-13, an anti-inflammatory agent.
Higher triglycerides and higher HDL cholesterol previously have been linked to higher IL-6 levels, the researchers pointed out.
“This study confirms that obesity is associated with greater symptomatic severity of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis,” said study co-author Dr. Mario Stampanoni Bassi, a neurologist at Neuromed Mediterranean Neurological Institute in Pozzilli, Italy.
“Our results therefore suggest that excessive body weight, or altered lipid profile, are associated to
