The Association Between Changes in Body Fat, Body Weight and Serum C-Reactive Protein: A Prospective Study
Year: 2005
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Objective- To investigate the extent to which changes in body fat percentage (BF%) and weight (BW) relate to changes in C-reactive protein (CRP) in women, while statistically controlling for possible confounders, such as age, initial body weight, and menopause status. Methods and Results- A cohort of 150 free-living subjects was followed prospectively over a 2½-year period. BF% was measured using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), while BW was determined with a calibrated, electronic scale. There was no significant relationship between changes in BF% and CRP, regardless of age, initial BW, and menopause status. However, changes in BW were predictive of changes in CRP (F=7.75, p=0.006, R2=0.05). The association remained significant after adjusting for differences in baseline age, initial BW, and menopause status (F=9.17, p=0.003, R2=0.08). Conclusions- Changes in BF% are not predictive of changes in CRP. However, in agreement with other studies, variations in BW are predictive of changes in CRP. Evidently, changes in CRP are more a function of changes in BW than changes in BF% in middle-aged women. If a causal relationship is assumed, then weight gain over time is likely to increase risk of elevated CRP levels and possibly cardiovascular disease.
Author: Benjamin T. Bikman
Institution: Brigham Young University
Language: English
Subfield: Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W753032545