Obesity is associated with many diseases. Fat cells secrete biologically active substances known as biomarkers. This study aimed to assess the concentration of some biomarkers and take them as predictors of metabolic syndrome.

In the present, 88 blood serum samples were collected from male volunteers who have metabolic health in Basra Province, Iraq. 28 samples were taken from men with normal weight, and 60 samples from obese men. 5mm of venous blood was taken from each donor, and the concentration of biomarkers including paraoxonase enzyme-1, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, oxidized low-density lipoprotein and endothelin-1 were measured. Then, the effect of BMI and waist circumferences on the concentration of biomarkers was investigated.

A significant decrease in paraoxonase-1 concentration was observed in the obese group (p≤0.01), while plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 was significantly higher in the obese group compared to the normal weight group. There was no significant difference in the concentration of oxidized low-density lipoprotein and endothelin-1 between the two groups. There was a significant increase in the levels of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 and endothelin-1 in the group with BMI>40 compared to the group with 40≥BMI≥35. There was no significant difference in the concentration of all biomarkers between the two waist circumference groups.

Obesity is a major cause of the metabolic syndrome, and abnormal levels of paraoxonase-1 and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 associated with obesity are early warning signs of metabolic syndrome.