Background: Malondialdehyde (MDA) is end-product of polyunsaturated fatty acid. Studies have highlighted MDA as a biomarker of whole-body oxidative stress.

Objective: To explore the association between urinary MDA and obesity status.

Materials and Methods: The present research was performed as a cross-sectional study at the Primary Care Unit of a tertiary care university hospital in southern Thailand. Data were collected via questionnaire, medical records, and urinary MDA sample measured with high-performance liquid chromatography. Data were analyzed by R program version 4.0.0.

Results: One hundred fifteen participants comprised of 57 obese and 58 non-obese patients were included in the present study. The means of body mass indexes (BMIs) were 27.5±2.3 versus 21.9±1.7 kg/m² in obese and non-obese group, respectively. The median of urinary MDA among obese was significantly higher than in non-obese participants at 5.7 (6.0) versus 3.6 (3.9) μg/mL, (p=0.016). Additionally, the urinary MDA in central obesity at 5.8 (5.9) μg/mL was higher than normal waist circumference at 3.5 (3.8) μg/mL, (p=0.009).

Conclusion: Urinary MDA was significantly higher in the obesity and central obesity group than the lower or normal BMI and waist circumference group. Obesity could be an essential factor promoting the body’s oxidative stress. Since oxidative stress is well known to be involved in the causes of lifestyle-related or chronic diseases, this specific biomarker can be used to detect and monitor the development of these diseases.

Keywords: Biomarker; Malondialdehyde; Obesity; Oxidative stress; Urinary MDA

DOI: 10.35755/jmedassocthai.2022.03.13283

Received 10 August 2021 | Revised 17 December 2021 | Accepted 20 December 2021