title: Cholesterol feeding increases C-reactive protein and serum amyloid A levels in lean insulin-sensitive subjects.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Inflammatory markers associated with elevated cardiovascular risk are increased by cholesterol feeding in animal models. However, whether dietary cholesterol increases inflammatory marker levels in humans is not known.
  
  
  RESULTS
  C-reactive protein (CRP), serum amyloid A (SAA), and lipoprotein levels were compared in 201 healthy subjects on an American Heart Association-National Cholesterol Education Program step 1 diet at baseline and after addition of 4 eggs per day for 4 weeks. Subjects were classified a priori into 3 groups based on their body mass index (BMI) and insulin sensitivity index (SI): lean insulin sensitive (LIS), mean+/-SEM BMI, 23.2+/-0.3 kg/m2, and SI, 6.7+/-0.3x10(-4)min(-1)/(microU/mL), n=66; lean insulin resistant (LIR), BMI, 24.5+/-0.2 kg/m2 and SI, 2.9+/-0.1x10(-4)min(-1)/(microU/mL), n=76; or obese insulin resistant (OIR), BMI, 31.4+/-0.5 kg/m2 and SI, 2.1+/-0.1x10(-4)min(-1)/(microU/mL), n=59. Insulin resistance and obesity each were associated with increased baseline levels of both CRP (P for trend, <0.001) and SAA (P for trend=0.015). Egg feeding was associated with significant increases in both CRP and SAA in the LIS group (both P<0.01) but not in the LIR or OIR groups. Egg feeding also was associated with a significant increase in non-HDL cholesterol (P<0.001) in LIS subjects; however, there was no correlation between the change in non-HDL cholesterol or changes in either CRP or SAA in this group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A high-cholesterol diet leads to significant increases in both inflammatory markers and non-HDL cholesterol levels in insulin-sensitive individuals but not in lean or obese insulin-resistant subjects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Washington, 1959 NE Pacific St, Seattle, WA 98195-6426, USA.
authors.forename: Lisa R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Tannock
authors.forename: Kevin D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: O'Brien
authors.forename: Robert H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Knopp
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Retzlaff
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fish
authors.forename: Mark H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Wener
authors.forename: Steven E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Kahn
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chait
mesh_terms: D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D001835:Body Weight; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity; D000685:Serum Amyloid A Protein / Q000032:analysis; D013851:Thinness; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary; D000685:Serum Amyloid A Protein; D002097:C-Reactive Protein