These cytokines are also able to activate expression of adhesion molecules on endothelium, and in the same study levels correlated with many circulating markers of endothelial dysfunction. Our recent observations that in healthy subjects up to one third of circulating levels of interleukin-6 are produced from adipose tissue, and that centrally distributed fat may be more active in this regard, suggests that adipose tissue-generated cytokines may be the link between central obesity, insulin resistance and endothelial dysfunction. In low birth weight babies, with a tendency towards central fat distribution, these cytokines may produce further vascular dysfunction than that consequent upon capillary rarefaction alone.