Association of diet and C-reactive protein with atherosclerosis in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients

Abstract

Objective To compare the characteristics of food and nutrition intake in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients with or without carotid atherosclerosis and analyze the relationship between diets/C-reactive protein (CRP) and carotid intima-media thickness (C-IMT). Methods Sixty patients with T2DM were enrolled and divided into two groups based on C-IMT: group A (C-IMT ＜ 1 mm, n=30) and group B (C-IMT≥1 mm, n=30). All subjects were investigated with questionnaires including 3-day food recall They all took somatometric measurement. Blood and urine samples were collected in all subjects to examine the levels of high sensitive-CRP,C-peptide, blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, blood lipid, renal function, urine microalbumin, and other indicators. Results The intakes of vegetables, fruits, and aquatic products were significantly higher in group A than in group B ( P ＜ 0. 05 ). The intake of vitamin C in group A was significantly higher than that in group B ( P ＜0. 05 ). The levels of CRP in group B was significant higher than that in group A (P = 0. 000). Positive correlation was found between CRP level and C-IMT in T2DM patients ( r = 0. 36, P = 0. 004). Furthermore, CRP was negatively correlated with the intakes of vegetables and fruits ( r = - 0. 334, P = 0. 01 ), aquatic products ( r = -0. 315, P = 0. 016), and vitamin C ( r = - 0. 2786, P = 0. 038 ), respectively. The intake of fruits was negatively correlated with C-IMT (r, = -0. 33, P = 0. 01 ). Conclusions T2DM patients without carotid atherosclerosis intake more vegetables, fruits, aquatic products and vitamin C than those with atherosclerosis. Vegetables, fruits,sea foods and vitamin C may be the protective factors against atherosclerosis in T2DM patients. CRP is associated with the development of atherosclerosis in T2DM patients. Key words: Diet; C-reactive protein; Type 2 diabetes mellitus; Atherosclerosis