C-reactive protein and dietary nutrients in urban Asian Indian adolescents and young adults.
OBJECTIVE
The relationship between C-reactive protein (CRP), a surrogate marker of cardiovascular risk, and dietary nutrients is not known. We investigated the relationship between serum CRP levels and dietary nutrients in young Asian Indians residing in a major metropolitan city in north India.


METHODS
Dietary nutrient intake values (24-h dietary recall and monthly consumption data) and serum CRP levels were studied in 359 healthy adolescents and young adults (312 male and 47 female) (mean age, 18.0 +/- 2.3 y; range, 14-25 y), after carefully excluding those with history of infections and smoking. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed with CRP [raised (>3.0 mg/L)/normal] as the outcome variable and various dietary nutrients and anthropometric variables as covariates.


RESULTS
Mean CRP level was 1.3 +/- 2.3 mg/L (range, 0.02-17.5 mg/L). Raised CRP levels (>3 mg/L) were noted in 9% study subjects (8.6% males and 12.8% females). After adjustment for other covariates, saturated fat emerged as the single most important nutrient contributing to increase in serum CRP levels. The odds of having a raised CRP level in subjects consuming more than 10% energy as saturated dietary fat were twice as compared to subjects having a normal saturated fat intake [Adjusted odds ratio (OR) (95% CI) = 2.0 (0.94-4.1)]. For every one percent decrease in energy intake by saturated fat, CRP level was calculated to decrease by 0.14 mg/L. For decreasing CRP levels to <1.0 mg/L (low risk for cardiovascular disease), Asian Indian adolescents and young adults should ensure saturated fat intake <7% of caloric intake.


CONCLUSIONS
We suggest that daily saturated fat intake should be limited to <7% of caloric intake in urban adolescents and young adult Asian Indians to decrease their future cardiovascular risk.
Arya
Shipra
S
Department of Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
Isharwal
Sumit
S
Misra
Anoop
A
Pandey
Ravindra M
RM
Rastogi
Kavita
K
Vikram
Naval K
NK
Dhingra
Vibha
V
Chatterjee
Ananya
A
Sharma
Rekha
R
Luthra
Kalpana
K
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001208:Asia / Q000208:ethnology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D004032:Diet; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009752:Nutritional Status; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012307:Risk Factors; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
D015415:Biomarkers; D004041:Dietary Fats; D002097:C-Reactive Protein