title: The association of leptin and C-reactive protein with the cardiovascular risk factors and metabolic syndrome score in Taiwanese adults.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Serum C-reactive protein (CRP) and leptin levels have been independently associated with the cardiovascular risk factors. The aim of the present study was to determine if their serum levels were associated with cardiovascular risk factors or metabolic syndrome as well as their correlation in the Taiwanese population.
  
  
  METHODS
  This retrospective study included 999 subjects (> 18 y), who underwent a physical examination in Chang-Gung Memorial Hospital-Linkou and Chiayi in Taiwan. The associations between CRP and/or leptin levels and cardiovascular risk factors and metabolic syndrome were determined using independent two sample t-tests to detect gender differences and chi-square tests to evaluate differences in frequencies. To compare the means of the variables measured among the four groups (high and low leptin and high and low CRP), analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both CRP and leptin levels were independently associated with several cardiovascular risk factors, including diabetes, hypercholesterolemia and metabolic syndrome in both men and women (P < 0.05). In addition, a positive correlation between leptin and CRP levels was observed in both genders. Both high-CRP and high-leptin were associated with high blood glucose, waist circumference and serum triglyceride. Whereas increased metabolic syndrome incidence was observed in males with elevated leptin regardless of CRP levels, females with elevated CRP or leptin had increased incidence of metabolic syndrome.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both leptin and CRP levels were associated with cardiovascular risk factors as well as metabolic syndrome score in both men and women although gender-specific differences were observed. Thus, CRP and leptin may represent useful biomarkers for predicting the onset of cardiovascular disease or metabolic syndrome in Taiwanese adults.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  IRB/CGMH 100-3514B.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupation Medicine, Chang-Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung Branch, No, 222 Maijin Rd., Keelung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Feng-Hsiang
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.forename: Chung Hsun
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Chuang
authors.forename: Wen-Cheng
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yi-Ming
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Weng
authors.forename: Wen-Chih
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Fann
authors.forename: Hsiang-Yun
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Lo
authors.forename: Cheng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Shih-Hao
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D044466:Asian People; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000097:blood / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood / Q000208:ethnology; D015994:Incidence; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D020738:Leptin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein