Is HS-CRP useful in identifying a subset of normal-weight women with higher cardiovascular risk?

Vahideh Aghamohammadi; Meysam Alipour; Damoon Ashtary-Larky; Hadi Bazyar; Neda Haghighat; Khadijeh Nasiri; Amir Abbasnezhad

Vahideh Aghamohammadi Department of Nutrition, Khalkhal University of Medical Sciences, Khalkahl, Iran
Meysam Alipour Department of Nutrition, Shoushtar Faculty of Medical Sciences, Shoushtar, Iran
Damoon Ashtary-Larky Nutrition and Metabolic Diseases Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
Hadi Bazyar Student Research Committee, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
Neda Haghighat Laparoscopy Research Center, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Khadijeh Nasiri Department of Nutrition, Khalkhal University of Medical Sciences, Khalkahl, Iran
Amir Abbasnezhad Department of Nutrition, Nutritional Health Research Center, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran

Keywords: cardiovascular disease, C-Reactive Protein, obesity

Abstract

Due to the paucity of information on high-sensitivity C-Reactive Protein (hs-CRP) identifying an at-risk group of non-obese individuals with a higher risk of subclinical atherosclerosis, we decided to evaluate hs-CRP identifying cardiovascular risks on inflammatory obesity phenotypes. We studied 154 women aged 20–35 years. Inflammatory status was defined as a serum hs-CRP level ≥2 mg/L. Individuals were grouped according to inflammatory obesity phenotypes: 1) IHNW: inflammatory healthy normal weight, 2) IUNW: inflammatory unhealthy normal weight, 3) IHO: inflammatory healthy obese, 4) IUO: inflammatory unhealthy obese. Body composition was significantly better in the IHO group compared to the IUO group(P<0.001), except for lean body mass in the left and right leg. After adjustment for covariates, the IHNW and IUNW had significant differences in hs-CRP, FBS and lipid profile(P<0.05). The IUO phenotype individuals had significantly more Cho/HDL, LDL/HDL and Atherogenic Index of Plasma(P<0.05). Moreover, the HOMA-s percentage was significantly higher in the IHO group compared to the IUO group. In conclusion, hsCRP ≥2 mg/L is useful in identifying a subset of obese and non-obese women with higher CVD risk. High hs-CRP, in the absence of obesity, could distinguish non-obese subset subjects with cardiovascular risk.