Adenovirus-5 and adenovirus-37 seropositivity in obese patients

Background and Objectives: Obesity is a major health issue linked to conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia. Infectobesity suggests that certain microorganisms may contribute to obesity. Human adenovirus serotypes, particularly Human adenovirus type-36 (HAdV-36), Human adenovirus type-5 (HAdV-5), and Human adenovirus type-37 (HAdV-37), are thought to influence body fat regulation. This study investigates the relationship between Immunoglobulin G (IgG) positivity for HAdV-5 and HAdV-37 and obesity, aiming to provide data on the infectious etiology of obesity. Materials and Methods: Blood samples separated into serums from obese (BMI ≥30) and non-obese (BMI 18.5-25) individuals were tested for HAdV-5 and HAdV-37 seropositivity using ELISA kits and seropositivity rates between the groups were compared. Results: HAdV-37 antibody positivity was significantly higher in obese patients (39/48) compared to the control group (24/42) (p=0.011). For HAdV-5, antibody positivity was similar in both groups (26 individuals each) with no significant difference (p=0.461). No significant gender-related differences were found for either serotype. Conclusion: The study suggests HAdV-37 may be associated with obesity, while no such relationship was found for HAdV-5. There was no gender association for either serotype. These results align with existing literature on HAdV-37, but further research is needed to confirm the link between adenoviruses and obesity and explore potential treatment options.