title: Association of canine obesity with reduced serum levels of C-reactive protein.
abstract: The prevalence of obesity is increasing in dogs as well as in humans. C-reactive protein (CRP) is an important tool for the detection of inflammation and/or early tissue damage and is linked to obesity in humans. The objective of the present study was to determine if serum CRP levels are altered in obese dogs. Fifteen lean (control group) and 16 overweight (obese group) dogs were examined. Blood samples were collected under fasted conditions for serum determination of CRP, glucose, insulin, cholesterol, triglyceride, and fructosamine. Results indicated that obese dogs were insulin resistant because serum insulin and insulin/glucose ratios were higher than in lean dogs (P < or = 0.05). Serum CRP concentrations were lower in obese dogs than in controls (P < or = 0.001). C-reactive protein was negatively correlated with insulin/glucose ratio (R = -0.42) and cholesterol (R = -0.39; P < or = 0.05). Furthermore, levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, and fructosamine were increased in the obese group compared with the control group. Based on these results, it can be postulated that CRP production is inhibited by obesity and insulin resistance in dogs.
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. angelavet@terra.com.br
authors.forename: Angela P M
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Veiga
authors.forename: Christopher A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Price
authors.forename: Simone T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
authors.forename: Andréa P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Dos Santos
authors.forename: Rómulo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Campos
authors.forename: Patricia R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Barbosa
authors.forename: Félix H D
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: González
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000097:blood*; D004285:Dogs; D019270:Fructosamine / Q000097:blood; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000662:veterinary*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D014280:Triglycerides; D019270:Fructosamine; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D002784:Cholesterol