TABLE 5.
The mediating effect of (changes in) C3 on the association of weight‐loss intervention or BMI with (changes in) markers of endothelial dysfunction (dependent variables) in simple mediator models
| Dependent | Independent: Intervention (Y/N) a | Independent: BMI (kg/m2) b | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Path c | β | 95% CI | % d | Dependent | Path c | β | 95% CI | % d | |
| Δ EndDys score (SD) | c | −0.86 | (−1.39 to −0.33) | EndDys score (SD) | C | 0.06 | (0.00 to 0.12) | ||
| c′ | −0.64 | (−1.18 to −0.10) | c′ | 0.02 | (−0.05 to 0.08) | ||||
| a × b Δ C3 | −0.22 | (−0.66 to 0.01) | 26 | a × b C3 | 0.05 | (0.01 to 0.10) | 83 | ||
| Δ sE‐selectin (ng/mL) | C | −36.5 | (−48.9 to −24.1) | sE‐selectin (ng/mL) | C | 4.81 | (2.38 to 7.23) | ||
| c′ | −30.4 | (−42.8 to −17.9) | c′ | 3.88 | (1.14 to 6.63) | ||||
| a × b Δ C3 | −6.10 | (−14.2 to −0.92) | 17 | a × b C3 | 0.92 | (−0.60 to 2.60) | 19 | ||
| Δ sICAM (ng/mL) | c | −26.5 | (−39.9 to −13.2) | sICAM (ng/mL) | c | 3.13 | (0.27 to 5.98) | ||
| c′ | −19.9 | (−33.3 to −6.47) | c′ | 1.24 | (−1.91 to 4.39) | ||||
| a × b Δ C3 | −6.65 | (−17.2 to −0.54) | 25 | a × b C3 | 1.88 | (0.11 to 4.78) | 60 | ||
| Δ vWF (ng/mL) | C | −5.47 | (−20.5 to 9.60) | vWF (ng/mL) | c | −0.69 | (−3.08 to 1.71) | ||
| c′ | −3.02 | (−19.2 to 13.2) | c′ | −1.96 | (−4.64 to 0.72) | ||||
| a × b Δ C3 | −2.44 | (−16.6 to 5.61) | a × b C3 | 1.27 | (−0.44 to 3.19) | ||||
| Δ sVCAM (ng/mL) | C | 3.47 | (−28.3 to 35.2) | sVCAM (ng/mL) | Cc | 1.25 | (−3.64 to 6.14) | ||
| c′ | 7.64 | (−26.6 to 41.9) | c′ | −1.99 | (−7.38 to 3.41) | ||||
| a × b Δ C3 | −4.17 | (−15.2 to 7.63) | a × b C3 | 3.24 | (−0.89 to 6.29) | ||||
Note: Bold font represents statistically significant data.
Abbreviations: EndDys score, endothelial dysfunction score; sE‐selectin, soluble endothelial selectin; sICAM‐1, soluble intercellular adhesion molecule 1; sVCAM‐1, soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule 1; vWf: von Willebrand factor.
N = 49.
N = 77.
c is the total effect, that is, the regression coefficient of the association of BMI or the intervention as independent and the respective marker of endothelial dysfunction as outcome, c′ is the direct effect, and a × b is the indirect effect via (changes in) plasma C3.
The proportion mediated effect [a × b/c] was calculated only when the total effect (c path) was significant.