Association between C-reactive protein and features of the metabolic syndrome: a population-based study.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the association of circulating levels of C-reactive protein, a sensitive systemic marker of inflammation, with different components of the metabolic syndrome.


METHODS
Total cholesterol (TC), HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, uric acid, BMI , and prevalence of diabetes and hypertension were assessed in 747 men and 956 women aged 18-89 years who were participating in the population-based National Health and Nutrition Survey, which was carried out in former West Germany in 1987-1988.


RESULTS
There was a statistically significant positive crude correlation between C-reactive protein and TC (R = 0.19), TG (R = 0.29), BMI (R = 0.32), glucose (R = 0.11), and uric acid (R = 0.14) (all P < 0.0001). A negative correlation was found between C-reactive protein and HDL cholesterol (R = 0.13, P < 0.0001). The age-adjusted geometric means of C-reactive protein concentrations in subjects grouped according to the presence of 0-1, 2-3, and > or =4 features of the metabolic syndrome were 1.11, 1.27, and 2.16 mg/l, respectively, with a statistically highly significant trend (P < 0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
The data suggest that a variety of features of the metabolic syndrome are associated with a systemic inflammatory response.
Fröhlich
M
M
Department of Internal Medicine II, University of Ulm Medical Center, Germany. margit.froehlich@medizin.uni-ulm.de
Imhof
A
A
Berg
G
G
Hutchinson
W L
WL
Pepys
M B
MB
Boeing
H
H
Muche
R
R
Brenner
H
H
Koenig
W
W
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis* / Q000502:physiology; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000209:etiology; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D005260:Female; D018149:Glucose Intolerance; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D015228:Hypertriglyceridemia / Q000150:complications; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications; D012307:Risk Factors; D013577:Syndrome; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D014280:Triglycerides; D002097:C-Reactive Protein