Effect of Obesity on Immune Response to Pneumovax 23

Inclusion Criteria

Control group

• aged 18-35
• BMIs between 22-25kg/m2, Obese group
• Aged 18 - 35
• BMIs greater than 30kg/m2, and
• waist to hip ratio of at least 0.9 in males and at least 0.85 in females

Exclusion Criteria

• Pregnancy: Pregnant, Planning to become pregnant, or Breastfeeding
• Diabetes mellitus (A1C> 6.5%): Diagnosed with diabetes
• Abnormal CMP and CBC values as determined by the Principal Investigator.
• Inability to fast for 8 hours prior to the initial blood draw
• Immunization: Immunized with Pneumovax 23, or Immunized with Prevnar
• Medications: Currently taking any of the following medications or within the 4 weeks of study:

i. Immunosuppressive drugs or chemotherapeutic agents such as azathioprine, mycophenolate mofetil, TNF inhibitors, cyclosporine, methotrexate, leflunomide, cyclophosphamide, sulfasalazine, antimalarial drugs, chlorambucil, nitrogen mustard

ii. Steroids such as prednisone, cortisone, hydrocortisone

iii. Antidiabetic drugs such as metformin, insulin, glipizide, meglitinide, sulfonylurea, glimepiride, repaglinide, nateglinide

• History of clinical illness (exclusion during clinic)
• Pneumonia or Previously had Pneumonia
• Low blood pressure or Experienced dizzy spells
• Significant cardiovascular disease: Recently hospitalizations deemed significant at the discretion of the Principal Investigator, or History of heart attack, or History of stroke
• Spleen, Splenectomy, or Damage to spleen
• Lung Disease or History of lung disease
• Kidney disease, Blood in urine, or Protein in urine
• Liver disease, Previous or current liver diseases such as hepatitis A, B, or C, liver cirrhosis, or autoimmune hepatitis, or Elevated AST/ALT lab test
• Leukopenias
• Hemoglobinopathies, History of sickle cell disease, or thalassemia
• HIV/AIDS, or a history of HIV infection
• Recreational IV drug use, or Intravenous drug injection predisposes users to infections, such as human immunodeficiency virus, that may alter the immune system and therefore affect the immunoglobulin response to Pneumovax23.
• History of IV-drug use, or IV drug use is a risk factor for HIV infection, which may change the immune response to Pneumovax 23.
• History of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura
• History of chronic inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis or chronic granulomatous disease
• Autoimmune disease
• Immunodeficiencies: neutropenia, common variable immune deficiency, Bruton's X-linked agammaglobulinemia; SCID; Selective IgA deficiency; Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome; Ataxia Telangiectasia; DiGeorge Syndrome; Chronic Granulomatous Disease; Hyper IgE Syndrome; Complement deficiencies
• Weight
• Planning on losing weight within the time frame of the study
• Have experienced excessive weight loss or gain within two months prior to the study
• Planning to undergo liposuction, gastric bypass, stomach stapling, whipple procedure, or reconstructive surgery involving transplantation of adipose tissue within the study period
• Bodybuilder or someone who takes part in excessive weight training
• Allergy
• Any severe side effects from vaccines
• Allergic reaction to phenol
• Medications/Supplementations
• Taking any antioxidant supplements (EmergenC)
• Unable to refrain from antioxidant supplements throughout the duration of the study.