Abdominal Adiposity Is Associated With Elevated C-Reactive Protein Independent of BMI in Healthy Nonobese People
- Emanuela Lapice, MD,
- Simona Maione, BS,
- Lidia Patti, PHD,
- Paola Cipriano, BS,
- Angela A. Rivellese, MD,
- Gabriele Riccardi, MD and
- Olga Vaccaro, MD
- Corresponding author: Olga Vaccaro, ovaccaro{at}unina.it.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE There is debate over the most appropriate adiposity markers of obesity-associated health risks. We evaluated the relationship between fat distribution and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), independent of total adiposity.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We studied 350 people with abdominal adiposity (waist-to-hip ratio [WHR] ≥0.9 in male and ≥0.85 in female subjects) and 199 control subjects (WHR <0.9 in male and <0.85 in female subjects) matched for BMI and age. We measured hs-CRP and major cardiovascular risk factors.
RESULTS Participants with abdominal adiposity had BMI similar to that in control subjects (24.8 ± 2.5 vs. 24.7 ± 2.2 kg/m2, respectively), but significantly higher waist circumference (96.4 ± 6.0 vs. 83.3 ± 6.7 cm; P < 0.01) and WHR (1.07 ± 0.08 vs. 0.85 ± 0.05; P < 0.001). Compared with the control subjects, participants with abdominal adiposity had an adverse cardiovascular risk factor profile, significantly higher hs-CRP (1.96 ± 2.60 vs. 1.53 ± 1.74 mg/dl; P < 0.01), and a twofold prevalence of elevated CRP values (>3 mg/dl).
CONCLUSIONS In nonobese people, moderate abdominal adiposity is associated with markers of subclinical inflammation independent of BMI.
Footnotes
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The costs of publication of this article were defrayed in part by the payment of page charges. This article must therefore be hereby marked “advertisement” in accordance with 18 U.S.C. Section 1734 solely to indicate this fact.
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- Received February 2, 2009.
- Accepted June 10, 2009.
- © 2009 by the American Diabetes Association.
