Significant Correlation Between Visceral Adiposity and High-sensitivity C-reactive Protein (hs-CRP) in Japanese Subjects

OBJECTIVE: High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) is a marker for low-grade inflammation, as well as atherosclerosis, obesity, hyperglycemia and hypertension. Because the factor showing the strongest association with inflammation is currently unknown, we investigated the associations between hs-CRP and clinical and biochemical characteristics in Japanese subjects with mild obesity or impaired glucose tolerance. METHODS: Subjects aged <65 years old, attending the Seirei Medical Examination Center, underwent complete physical and laboratory examinations. A total of 112 subjects (mean age 59.9±5.9 years old, males/females: n=50/62) with a waist circumference of >85 cm in males and >90 cm in females, homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) ≥1.7, or impaired glucose tolerance were eligible for this study. All subjects had normal albuminuria. RESULTS: Log-transformed hs-CRP concentrations were significantly correlated with BMI (r=0.278, p<0.01), HOMA-IR (r=0.296, p<0.005), 2-h post-challenge IRI during an oral glucose tolerance test (r=0.218, p<0.05), maximum intima-media thickness (r=0.240, p<0.05), visceral fat area evaluated by computed tomography (r=0.423, p<0.0001) and subcutaneous fat area (r=0.231, p<0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that visceral fat was the most significantly correlated factor with hs-CRP. CONCLUSION: Visceral fat mass was a significant and independent predictor for serum hs-CRP levels in Japanese subjects with mild obesity and/or impaired glucose tolerance.