The Metabolic Syndrome & Concentrations of C-Reactive Protein
The Metabolic Syndrome & Concentrations of C-Reactive Protein
Objective: Adults with the metabolic syndrome show biochemical evidence of low-grade inflammation. We sought to examine whether this is true among U.S. youth with the metabolic syndrome.
Research Design And Methods: We used data from 1,366 participants aged 12-17 years from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2000. A modification of the definition of the metabolic syndrome proposed by the Third Report of the National Cholesterol Education Program Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults was used. C-reactive protein (CRP) was measured by latex-enhanced nephelometry.
Results: Mean and median concentrations of CRP were higher among participants who had the metabolic syndrome (mean 3.8 mg/l, geometric mean 1.8 mg/l) than among those who did not (mean 1.4 mg/l, geometric mean 0.4 mg/l). The percentage of participants with a concentration of CRP >3.0 mg/l was 38.4% among those with the metabolic syndrome and 10.3% among those without the syndrome ( P = 0.007). Of the five components of the syndrome, only abdominal obesity was significantly and independently associated with log-transformed concentrations of CRP in multiple linear regression analysis.
Conclusions: Our results show that a large percentage of children and adolescents with the metabolic syndrome have elevated concentrations of CRP. Whether the elevated concentrations of CRP among children and adolescents who have the metabolic syndrome predict future adverse health events remains to be determined.
The metabolic syndrome has generated a great deal of interest in recent years. Comprised of a constellation of anthropometric, physiologic, and biochemical abnormalities, the metabolic syndrome is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease and diabetes among adults. However, research about the metabolic syndrome among children and adolescents and the implications of having the metabolic syndrome is limited.
Among adults, components of the metabolic syndrome and the metabolic syndrome itself are associated with measures of inflammation, such as concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP). This low-grade inflammation, which has been associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular disease and diabetes, may provide a mechanism for the increased risk of these conditions experienced by individuals who have the metabolic syndrome.
Little is known about whether children and adolescents who have the metabolic syndrome have evidence of inflammation. Because the roots of many adult diseases herald back to childhood, establishing whether young people who have the metabolic syndrome also show evidence of increased inflammation may help to identify children and adolescents who are at high risk for developing cardiovascular disease and diabetes and allow for early prevention of possible adverse health events.
Objective: Adults with the metabolic syndrome show biochemical evidence of low-grade inflammation. We sought to examine whether this is true among U.S. youth with the metabolic syndrome.
Research Design And Methods: We used data from 1,366 participants aged 12-17 years from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2000. A modification of the definition of the metabolic syndrome proposed by the Third Report of the National Cholesterol Education Program Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults was used. C-reactive protein (CRP) was measured by latex-enhanced nephelometry.
Results: Mean and median concentrations of CRP were higher among participants who had the metabolic syndrome (mean 3.8 mg/l, geometric mean 1.8 mg/l) than among those who did not (mean 1.4 mg/l, geometric mean 0.4 mg/l). The percentage of participants with a concentration of CRP >3.0 mg/l was 38.4% among those with the metabolic syndrome and 10.3% among those without the syndrome ( P = 0.007). Of the five components of the syndrome, only abdominal obesity was significantly and independently associated with log-transformed concentrations of CRP in multiple linear regression analysis.
Conclusions: Our results show that a large percentage of children and adolescents with the metabolic syndrome have elevated concentrations of CRP. Whether the elevated concentrations of CRP among children and adolescents who have the metabolic syndrome predict future adverse health events remains to be determined.
The metabolic syndrome has generated a great deal of interest in recent years. Comprised of a constellation of anthropometric, physiologic, and biochemical abnormalities, the metabolic syndrome is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease and diabetes among adults. However, research about the metabolic syndrome among children and adolescents and the implications of having the metabolic syndrome is limited.
Among adults, components of the metabolic syndrome and the metabolic syndrome itself are associated with measures of inflammation, such as concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP). This low-grade inflammation, which has been associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular disease and diabetes, may provide a mechanism for the increased risk of these conditions experienced by individuals who have the metabolic syndrome.
Little is known about whether children and adolescents who have the metabolic syndrome have evidence of inflammation. Because the roots of many adult diseases herald back to childhood, establishing whether young people who have the metabolic syndrome also show evidence of increased inflammation may help to identify children and adolescents who are at high risk for developing cardiovascular disease and diabetes and allow for early prevention of possible adverse health events.
