Relationship between nutritional status and some inflammatory markers

Abstract

Obesity is well known risk factor of metabolic complications and CVD. On the other hand, CRP as a marker of inflammation has lately aroused huge interest as predictor of cardiovascular risk. The objective of the study was to determine whether the nutritional status parameters were related to some inflammatory markers and what was the extent of such relation. The study involved 220 patients, 40.5 +/- 14.5 years old, who referred to Nutrition Clinic of the Institute of Hygiene in order to get a dietetic advice or nutritional medical therapy. Nutritional status was assessed by BMI (kg/m2), calculated from measured values of body weight and height, the waist measurement and body fat percentage according to WHO recommendations. Biochemical parameters and inflammatory markers were measured from blood samples collected after a twelve-hour fast. The subjects were categorized into quartiles of BMI (kg/m2) and % body fat. The inflammatory markers followed the increase of BMI and % body fat, as odds ratio (95% CI) of elevated level of CRP was observed to be highest in the fourth quartiles of BMI [1.55 [(OR = 0.731 - 3.296] as well as in the fourth quartile of % body fat - 1.34 [(OR = 0.598 - 3.009)]. This was confirmed by analysis of linear correlation which resulted in r = 0.148 for BMI (p < 0.05) and r = 0.164 (p < 0.05) for fat percentage. In addition, there was highly significant positive correlation between fibrinogen level, C3 and BMI (p < 0.01), and body fat (p < 0.01). The results showed that determination of inflammatory markers should become a routine screening procedure in all patients with elevated anthropometric parameters in order to prevent the consequences of atherosclerosis as quickly as possible.