Asthma treatments are 40 percent less effective in obese asthmatic patients because obesity limits the pathways by which steroids reduce inflammation in the body, researchers from the National Jewish Health in Denver said.
The researchers analyzed health records of 33 adults with asthma and 12 without and measured the response of blood cells and airway cells to various steroids used to treat asthma. The steroid works by interfering with inflammatory signaling pathways by raising the level of a molecule called MAP kinase phosphatase-1 (MKP-1).
In the patients with healthy weight, the levels of MKP-1 increased by 5.27 times as compared to 3.11 times or 41 percent less in those who were overweight or obese, the study found.
Researchers say they are not sure as to why the treatments don't work well in obese patients but speculate that obesity leads to diabetes and cardiovascular disease that can also hamper the steroid effects.
The study was published in the first October issue of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
