Metabolic syndrome and C-reactive protein in American adults: the impact of abdominal obesity.

AIMS

Although elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) and abdominal obesity (AO) are associated with metabolic syndrome, their connection is unclear. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of AO on the association of CRP with metabolic syndrome.

METHODS

Data (n = 6270) from the 2005-2006 U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were used in this investigation. The impact of AO on the association of CRP with metabolic syndrome was determined using logistic regression analysis. In the regression model, statistical adjustments were made for age, sex, race/ethnicity, alcohol intake, smoking, education, and respiratory and inflammatory diseases.

RESULTS

Overall, elevated CRP (odds ratio [OR] = 1.38; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.10-1.73) and AO (OR = 2.71; 95% CI, 1.93-3.80) were associated with increased odds of metabolic syndrome, adjusting for age, sex, race/ethnicity, alcohol intake, smoking, education, and respiratory and inflammatory diseases. In men, CRP (OR = 1.45; 95% CI, 1.04-2.03) and AO (OR = 2.03; 95% CI, 1.16-3.54) were associated with increased odds of metabolic syndrome. The corresponding values in women were 1.35 (95% CI, 1.05-1.86) and 2.94 (95% CI, 1.91-4.53), respectively. Overall, adjustment for AO was associated with 10.1% reduction in the association of CRP with metabolic syndrome. The analogous values for men and women were 4.8% and 14.1%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

In multivariate logistic regression analysis, CRP was associated with reduced risk of metabolic syndrome adjusting for AO independently of potential confounders, thus confirming once again the importance of weight reduction for the management of metabolic syndrome. Weight reduction programs or other interventions targeted specifically at abdominal regions may help to alleviate risk of metabolic syndrome.