Association between subclinical inflammation & fasting insulin in urban young adult north Indian males.
OBJECTIVE
Elevated levels of c-reactive protein (CRP) are known to be associated with insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome in adults. A substantial prevalence of hyperinsulinaemia and elevated CRP levels have been shown in Indian young adults. We therefore studied the association of serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) with fasting insulin and insulin resistance in urban adolescent and young adult males in north India.


METHODS
In this cross-sectional study 324 healthy males, 14-25 yr of age were selected randomly and their clinical and anthropometric profile [body mass index (BMI), waist and hip circumferences, waist-to-hip circumference ratio (W-HR), and skinfold thickness at four sites], percentage of body fat (%BF) and biochemical (fasting blood glucose, lipoprotein profile, fasting insulin and hs-CRP) parameters were recorded. Insulin resistance was assessed by the homeostasis model of assessment (HOMA-IR).


RESULTS
Fasting insulin and hs-CRP levels correlated significantly with BMI, waist circumference, and triceps and subscapular skinfold thickness. Fasting insulin also correlated with %BF, and hs- CRP correlated with W-HR. No correlation was observed between hs-CRP and fasting insulin levels or insulin resistance. In multiple logistic regression analysis different independent risk factors for hyperinsulinaemia and elevated hs-CRP levels were observed; hypercholesterolaemia, overweight and high subscapular skinfold thickness for the former, and high triceps skinfold thickness for the latter.


CONCLUSIONS
Lack of correlation between hs-CRP and surrogate markers of insulin resistance and different risk factors for each, in young Indian males are unique observations of our study. Further studies on a larger sample of both genders need to be done to confirm these findings.
Vikram
N K
NK
Department of Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
Misra
Anoop
A
Pandey
R M
RM
Dwivedi
Manjari
M
Luthra
Kalpana
K
Dhingra
Vibha
V
Talwar
K K
KK
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D005215:Fasting / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood*; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood*; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis
D007328:Insulin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein