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C-reactive protein is independently associated with total body fat, central fat, and insulin resistance in adult women

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations are influenced by body composition, insulin resistance, and body fat distribution in healthy women.

DESIGN: Cross-sectional study of CRP plasma levels in adult women.

SUBJECTS: A total of 201 apparently healthy normal weight, overweight, and obese women, aged 18–60 y.

MEASUREMENTS: CRP plasma levels, several fatness and body fat distribution parameters (by bioimpedance analysis and anthropometry), and insulin resistance (HOMAIR), as calculated by homeostatic model assessment.

RESULTS: CRP was positively correlated with age, body mass index (BMI), waist, fasting glucose and insulin, HOMAIR, fat-free mass (FFM) and fat mass (FM). After multivariate analyses, age, HOMAIR, waist and FM maintained their independent association with CRP.

CONCLUSION: Our study has shown an independent relationship of central fat accumulation and insulin resistance with CRP plasma levels, thus suggesting that mild, chronic inflammation may be a further component of the metabolic syndrome and a mediator of the atherogenic profile of this syndrome.

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Correspondence to G De Pergola.

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Pannacciulli, N., Cantatore, F., Minenna, A. et al. C-reactive protein is independently associated with total body fat, central fat, and insulin resistance in adult women. Int J Obes 25, 1416–1420 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0801719

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