title: Impact of vitamin D status and obesity on C-reactive protein in kidney-transplant patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We examined whether vitamin D status and obesity are associated with low-grade systemic inflammation, as assessed by serum concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP) in an adult population of kidney-transplant patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a single-center, cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected between December 2005 and April 2006 from 161 adult (aged >18 years) kidney-transplant patients (mean age, 53.1 years; SD, 11.5 years; females/males, 78/83), with a median kidney-graft age of 7.0 years and serum CRP levels < or =10 mg/L.
  
  
  METHODS
  Vitamin D status was assessed by serum concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)(2)D). The presence of low-grade systemic inflammation was assessed by serum CRP. Selected lifestyle factors and anthropometric variables were determined in a subgroup of patients (n = 90). Bivariate correlation and multiple regression analyses were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hypovitaminosis D (ie, S-25-OHD < or =75 nmol/L) was present in 73% of females, and 89% of males. The median level of serum CRP was 1.7 mg/L. Vitamin D status was not significantly associated with serum CRP. In the patient subgroup, indices of obesity (body mass index, body weight, and fat mass) correlated positively, and lean body mass correlated negatively, with serum CRP. Only fat mass remained significantly associated with serum CRP in multiple regression analysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  No impact of vitamin D status on low-grade systemic inflammation was found. Fat mass correlated positively with CRP, suggesting that obesity may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and chronic allograft rejection in kidney-transplant patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Copenhagen University Hospital Herlev, Denmark.
authors.forename: Bettina
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ewers
authors.forename: Ane
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gasbjerg
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zerahn
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Marckmann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000886:Anthropometry / Q000379:methods; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009752:Nutritional Status; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D014807:Vitamin D; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D