Group Mechanistic Step Control Obese Obese + IR # Pts   28 16 27 FGF-21 (ng/mL) Fat Metabolism 0.608 (±0.02) 0.964 (±0.03)* 0.971 (±0.05)* NEFA (µmol/L) Fat Accumulation 0.47 (±0.07) 0.88 (±0.03)* 1.28 (±0.04)*# FATP5 (ng/mL) Fat Inflow 8.00 (±0.32) 9.46 (±0.32)* 9.59 (±0.29)* ApoB (µg/mL) Fat Outflow 1419.79 (±37.07) 1713.12 (±31.94)* 1914.59 (±48.87)* # Bilirubin (mg/dL) Antioxidant 0.739 (±0.04) 0.459 (±0.03)* 0.430 (±0.02)* 8-Isoprostane (pg/mL) Oxidative Stress 7.34 (±0.37) 10.54 (±0.39)* 11.02 (±0.44)* Dysfunctional HDL Oxidative Stress Inflammation 2382.75 (±51.48) 3059.90 (±114.62)* 3414.76 (±146.04)*# CK-18 (ng/mL) Inflammation Apoptosis 57.10 (±1.32) 68.22 (±1.59)* 90.48 (±2.14)*#

Values represent means ± SEM. *p<0.02 vs control, #p<0.02 vs obese. Concentrations of biomarkers for fat accumulation, oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis assessed via ELISA in control, obese without IR, and obese with IR patients.

Table 2: Serum biomarkers.