Relationships of serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and body size with insulin resistance in a Japanese cohort.

BACKGROUND: Impacts of chronic systemic inflammation and body size and their interaction effect on insulin resistance in Asian populations, in whom obesity is less common, are not fully understood. This study evaluated combined relationships of systemic inflammation and body size with insulin resistance in a Japanese cohort.

METHODS: We analyzed cross-sectional data from 1,074 eligible subjects (536 men and 538 women) aged 35-69 years who participated in the baseline survey of a cohort study in Tokushima Prefecture, Japan. Systemic inflammation level was assessed by serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and the degree of insulin resistance and beta-cell function were evaluated by the homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and beta-cell function (HOMA-β), respectively. Overweight and obesity were defined as a body mass index (BMI) of 23.0-24.9 kg/m2 and ≥25.0 kg/m2, respectively. Associations between serum hs-CRP (assessed as quartiles and additionally continuous values after log-transformation) and indices of glucose homeostasis were analysed adjusting for probable covariates, including BMI (quartiles). Combined associations of serum hs-CRP (≤median, >median) and body size (normal, overweight, obese) with insulin resistance as well as their interaction effect on insulin resistance were also evaluated.

RESULTS: Serum hs-CRP was dose-dependently associated with HOMA-IR, but not HOMA-β, after adjustment for probable covariates, including BMI. Subjects with obesity and elevated serum hs-CRP (>median) showed a high multivariable-adjusted HOMA-IR value of 1.32 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.23, 1.41) compared with subjects with normal BMI and low serum hs-CRP (≤median) whose multivariable-adjusted HOMA-IR value was 1.14 (95% CI 1.06, 1.21). The interaction effect between body size (normal, overweight, obese) and serum hs-CRP (≤median, >median) on HOMA-IR was significant (P for interaction <0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that elevated systemic inflammation is dose-dependently associated with increased insulin resistance, independent of the known risk factors, in a Japanese population. Concomitant obesity and elevated systemic inflammation may synergistically contribute to increased insulin resistance.