title: Sex Differences in High Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein in Subjects with Risk Factors of Metabolic Syndrome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with a higher risk of all-cause mortality. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) is a prototypic marker of inflammation usually increased in MetS. Women with MetS-related diseases present higher hsCRP levels than men with MetS-related diseases, suggesting sex differences in inflammatory markers. However, it is unclear whether serum hsCRP levels are already increased in men and/or women with MetS risk factors and without overt diseases or under pharmacological treatment.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the impact of the number of MetS risk factors on serum hsCRP levels in women and men. Methods One hundred and eighteen subjects (70 men and 48 women; 36 ± 1 years) were divided into four groups according to the number of MetS risk factors: healthy group (CT; no risk factors), MetS ≤ 2, MetS = 3, and MetS ≥ 4. Blood was drawn after 12 hours of fasting for measurement of biochemical variables and hsCRP levels, which were determined by immunoturbidimetric assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The groups with MetS risk factors presented higher serum hsCRP levels when compared with the CT group (p < 0.02). There were no differences in hsCRP levels among groups with MetS risk factors (p > 0.05). The best linear regression model to explain the association between MetS risk factors and hsCRP levels included waist circumference and HDL cholesterol (r = 0.40, p < 0.01). Women with MetS risk factors presented higher hsCRP levels when compared with men (p sex < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite the absence of overt diseases and pharmacological treatment, subjects with MetS risk factors already presented increased hsCRP levels, which were significantly higher in women than men at similar conditions.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Fisiologia e Farmacologia, Laboratório de Ciências do Exercício, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Vinicius Pacheco
authors.initials: VP
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Fisiologia e Farmacologia, Laboratório de Ciências do Exercício, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Helena Naly Miguens
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Rocha
authors.affiliation: Instituto do Coração, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Allan Robson Kluser
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Sales
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Fisiologia e Farmacologia, Laboratório de Ciências do Exercício, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Natália Galito
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Rocha
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Fisiologia e Farmacologia, Laboratório de Ciências do Exercício, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Antonio Claudio Lucas
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: da Nóbrega
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D055105:Waist Circumference
chemical_list: D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D002097:C-Reactive Protein