[Relationship of C-reactive protein to adiposity, cardiovascular risk factors and subclinical atherosclerosis in healthy children].
OBJECTIVE
In adults, C-reactive protein is a marker of cardiovascular risk. It is associated with both classical and metabolic risk factors and is a predictor of cardiovascular events. The aim was to investigate the relationship of the C-reactive protein concentration to classical cardiovascular risk factors, measures of adiposity subclinical atherosclerosis in children.


METHODS
The values of traditional risk factors, anthropometric parameters, fasting lipids, glucose and C-reactive protein levels were recorded. In addition, the carotid artery intima-media thickness was measured, and brachial artery endothelial function was assessed using flow-mediated dilation.


RESULTS
The study included 112 children (58 male) with a mean age of 11.3+/-1.9 years. The mean C-reactive protein concentration was 0.9+/-1.5 mg/L. In males, there were significant direct correlations between the C-reactive protein concentration and body mass index, total fat mass, central adiposity, waist circumference, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol level. In females, C-reactive protein was associated with only body mass index. Boys in the highest C-reactive protein tertile had a significantly higher body mass index, total fat mass, LDL cholesterol level, and waist circumference. In the whole group, the best predictor of an elevated ultrasensitive C-reactive protein concentration was the body mass index (odds ratio=2.04 [1.30-3.21]). No relationship was found between the C-reactive protein concentration and the percentage flow-mediated dilation of the brachial artery or the carotid intima-media thickness.


CONCLUSIONS
The results indicate that, in children, there is a significant direct relationship between the ultrasensitive C-reactive protein concentration and measures of adiposity, particularly body mass index. However, no relationship between C-reactive protein and subclinical atherosclerosis was observed.
Acevedo
Mónica
M
Departamento de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile. macevedo@med.puc.cl
Arnáiz
Pilar
P
Barja
Salesa
S
Bambs
Claudia
C
Berríos
Ximena
X
Guzmán
Beatriz
B
Carvajal
Jacqueline
J
Cassis
Berta
B
Navarrete
Carlos
C
D050153:Abdominal Fat / Q000473:pathology; D050154:Adiposity; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D002648:Child; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors
D015415:Biomarkers; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D002097:C-Reactive Protein