White blood cells in obesity and diabetes: effects of weight loss and normalization of glucose metabolism.

White blood cell (WBC) count is elevated in obesity (1) and is a risk factor for atherosclerosis (2). An elevated WBC count is present in impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) (3), and WBC count is associated with macroand microangiopathic complications in type 2 diabetes (4). In both of these studies, the effect was more marked in obese patients. In morbid obesity, bariatric surgery in many cases (gastric bypass or laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding [LAGB]) is able to induce, together with a sustained and durable weight loss, the disappearance of comorbidities, such as type 2 diabetes (5,6). The aim of this study was to compare the effect of LAGB and of conventional diet on WBC count in patients with morbid obesity that is simple or complicated by IGT or type 2 diabetes.