Obesity and oxidative stress: Important link in cardiovascular disease genesis in the young? A cross-sectional study

Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of global mortality, with obesity and oxidative stress contributing significantly to their pathogenesis. This study examined the relationship between obesity, oxidative stress biomarkers, and cardiovascular risk. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 92 participants (mean age: 28.6 years and 54.4% of males). Anthropometric and biochemical parameters, including malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC), were measured. Participants were stratified by body mass index (BMI; <23, 23–24.9, ≥25 kg/m²) and Framingham risk scores. Results: No significant differences were observed in MDA, SOD, or TAC levels across BMI categories ( P > 0.05). However, MDA levels were significantly higher in the intermediate-risk group compared to low-risk group ( P = 0.035). A weak negative correlation was found between SOD and CVD risk ( P = 0.033), while TAC showed no significant association with risk. Conclusion: Oxidative stress biomarkers, particularly MDA, may be more closely linked to cardiovascular risk than BMI alone. The inverse relationship between SOD and CVD risk suggests its protective role. These findings highlight the need for integrating oxidative stress markers with conventional risk factors for improved CVD risk assessment. Future research should explore demographic influences on these relationships.