C-reactive protein is independently associated with total body fat, central fat, and insulin resistance in adult women.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations are influenced by body composition, insulin resistance, and body fat distribution in healthy women.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study of CRP plasma levels in adult women.


METHODS
A total of 201 apparently healthy normal weight, overweight, and obese women, aged 18-60 y.


METHODS
CRP plasma levels, several fatness and body fat distribution parameters (by bioimpedance analysis and anthropometry), and insulin resistance (HOMA(IR)), as calculated by homeostatic model assessment.


RESULTS
CRP was positively correlated with age, body mass index (BMI), waist, fasting glucose and insulin, HOMA(IR), fat-free mass (FFM) and fat mass (FM). After multivariate analyses, age, HOMA(IR), waist and FM maintained their independent association with CRP.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study has shown an independent relationship of central fat accumulation and insulin resistance with CRP plasma levels, thus suggesting that mild, chronic inflammation may be a further component of the metabolic syndrome and a mediator of the atherogenic profile of this syndrome.
Pannacciulli
N
N
Department of Emergency and Transplant, Section of Internal Medicine, Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, University of Bari, Bari, Italy.
Cantatore
F P
FP
Minenna
A
A
Bellacicco
M
M
Giorgino
R
R
De Pergola
G
G
D000005:Abdomen; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000886:Anthropometry; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D017097:Electric Impedance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood*; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000276:immunology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology
D007328:Insulin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein