Obesity has been suggested to be an inflammatory disease, or at least a disease with an inflammatory component to it. Pro-inflammatory molecules as CRP, IL-6, TNF-alpha, Nutrition. 2001 Nov-Dec;17(11-12):953-66; Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), and vascular adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1)Circulation. 2002 Feb 19;105(7):804-9 have been shown to be high in overweight or obese subjects.
CRP, a member of the pentraxin family of proteins is produced by the liver in response to traumatic, inflammatory or infective conditions. Ann Med. 2000 May;32(4):274-8. CRP is involved in mediating immune functions through activation of complements, performing opsonin like activity, and serving as a pro-inflammatory molecule. A positive correlation between BMI and CRP has been shown in healthy adults, JAMA. 1999 Dec 8;282(22):2131-5. and children. Pediatrics. 2001 Jan;107(1):E13. IL-6 is responsible for the stimulation of CRP production in the liver. Clin Exp Immunol. 1995 Oct;102(1):217-23. Obesity is associated with increased IL-6 expression in the adipose tissue J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1997 Dec;82(12):4196-200 and could explain the higher CRP in the obese. In keeping with this, CRP levels have been shown to correlate with IL-6 levels in the adipose tissue. Circulation. 1999 Apr 27;99(16):2221-2. Also, studies with IL-6 knock out rodents have shown that IL-6 is crucial for CRP production. J Immunol. 1998 Jun 1;160(11):5294-9. The relationship between CRP and obesity seems to be more marked in women. Curr Atheroscler Rep. 2003 Nov;5(6):431-6. HRT use in post menopausal women is associated with an increase in CRP although the significance of this finding is not known at present.
CRP levels correlate positively with Waist hip ratios and BMI as well as the components of the metabolic syndrome, Diabetes Metab Res Rev. 2005 May 10; In fact, elevated CRP may identify those patients with the metabolic syndrome who are at higher cardiovascular risk. Am J Crit Care. 2003 Mar;12(2):167-70; BMJ. 1996 Apr 27;312(7038):1061-5. Circulation. 1999 Aug 17;100(7):713-6. CRP may produce these harmful effects through induction of endothelial dysfunction. High CRP levels have been shown to be associated with lower endothelial Nitric oxide generation and decreased forearm blood flow. Clin Sci (Lond). 2000 May;98(5):531-5 CRP levels have been shown to correlate with fasting insulin levels in obese subjects. J Pediatr. 2004 Dec;145(6):731-6. CRP levels correlate positively with smoking and negatively with alcohol intake. Dietary glycaemic load seems to increase CRP, Am J Clin Nutr. 2002 Mar;75(3):492-8 and might correlate with its contribution to build up of visceral adipose tissue. Exercise has been demonstrated to reduce CRP levels, Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2004 Oct;24(10):1868-73 with marathon runners demonstrating very low CRP levels independent of adiposity levels Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol.2003 Sep 1;23(9):1640-4 although not all studies have borne out this relationship. Metabolism. 2005 Apr;54(4):533-41. Thiazolidinediones (rosiglitazone) treatment in a 6 week study in diabetic and non-diabetic obese patients demonstrated a reduction in CRP revealing the potential anti-inflammatory properties of this group of drugs. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2004 Jun;89(6):2728-35 Weight loss results in reduction of CRP levels Circulation. 2002 Feb 5;105(5):564-9.
CRP, a member of the pentraxin family of proteins is produced by the liver in response to traumatic, inflammatory or infective conditions. Ann Med. 2000 May;32(4):274-8. CRP is involved in mediating immune functions through activation of complements, performing opsonin like activity, and serving as a pro-inflammatory molecule. A positive correlation between BMI and CRP has been shown in healthy adults, JAMA. 1999 Dec 8;282(22):2131-5. and children. Pediatrics. 2001 Jan;107(1):E13. IL-6 is responsible for the stimulation of CRP production in the liver. Clin Exp Immunol. 1995 Oct;102(1):217-23. Obesity is associated with increased IL-6 expression in the adipose tissue J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1997 Dec;82(12):4196-200 and could explain the higher CRP in the obese. In keeping with this, CRP levels have been shown to correlate with IL-6 levels in the adipose tissue. Circulation. 1999 Apr 27;99(16):2221-2. Also, studies with IL-6 knock out rodents have shown that IL-6 is crucial for CRP production. J Immunol. 1998 Jun 1;160(11):5294-9. The relationship between CRP and obesity seems to be more marked in women. Curr Atheroscler Rep. 2003 Nov;5(6):431-6. HRT use in post menopausal women is associated with an increase in CRP although the significance of this finding is not known at present.
CRP levels correlate positively with Waist hip ratios and BMI as well as the components of the metabolic syndrome, Diabetes Metab Res Rev. 2005 May 10; In fact, elevated CRP may identify those patients with the metabolic syndrome who are at higher cardiovascular risk. Am J Crit Care. 2003 Mar;12(2):167-70; BMJ. 1996 Apr 27;312(7038):1061-5. Circulation. 1999 Aug 17;100(7):713-6. CRP may produce these harmful effects through induction of endothelial dysfunction. High CRP levels have been shown to be associated with lower endothelial Nitric oxide generation and decreased forearm blood flow. Clin Sci (Lond). 2000 May;98(5):531-5 CRP levels have been shown to correlate with fasting insulin levels in obese subjects. J Pediatr. 2004 Dec;145(6):731-6. CRP levels correlate positively with smoking and negatively with alcohol intake. Dietary glycaemic load seems to increase CRP, Am J Clin Nutr. 2002 Mar;75(3):492-8 and might correlate with its contribution to build up of visceral adipose tissue. Exercise has been demonstrated to reduce CRP levels, Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2004 Oct;24(10):1868-73 with marathon runners demonstrating very low CRP levels independent of adiposity levels Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol.2003 Sep 1;23(9):1640-4 although not all studies have borne out this relationship. Metabolism. 2005 Apr;54(4):533-41. Thiazolidinediones (rosiglitazone) treatment in a 6 week study in diabetic and non-diabetic obese patients demonstrated a reduction in CRP revealing the potential anti-inflammatory properties of this group of drugs. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2004 Jun;89(6):2728-35 Weight loss results in reduction of CRP levels Circulation. 2002 Feb 5;105(5):564-9.