Relation of C-reactive protein to features of the metabolic syndrome in normal glucose tolerant, impaired glucose tolerant, and newly diagnosed type 2 diabetic subject

Objective: To determine the relationship between CRP levels and the components of MS in normal glucose tolerant (NGT), impaired glucose tolerant (IGT), and Type 2 diabetic subjects. Material and methods: A based cross-sectional population study was performed. Eligible subjects, men and non-pregnant women, 30 to 64 year of age, were randomly recruited. Subjects with acute or chronic diseases were excluded. Only newly diagnosed type 2 diabetic or hypertensive subjects were included. Disorders related to CRP increase, also were exclusion criteria. In accordance to WHO proposal, components of MS were: High Blood Pressure, Dyslipidemia, Obesity, and Microalbuminuria, and MS was defined, for the NGT, if at least two of the criteria were fulfilled and in addition the subject had insulin resistance. The MS in IGT and DM subjects was defined if at least two of the criteria were fulfilled. Results: CRP was significantly associated with MS for the NGT (Odds ratio -OR- 3.8, Cl-95% 1.6-14.8), IGT (OR 4.9, Cl-95%, 1.2-15.5), and diabetes (OR 5.6, Cl-95%, 1.9-10.2). For NGT, after adjustment for obesity, CRP was not longer associated with MS. After adjust for obesity and fasting glucose (FG), the relationship between CRP and MS for IGT was lost. Finally, after adjustment for obesity, FG, and microalbuminuria, CRP was not longer associated with MS for diabetic subjects. Conclusions: This study show a significant relationship between CRP and MS which is maintained only by obesity in the NGT, by obesity and FG in the IGT, and by obesity, FG, and microalbuminuria in the newly diagnosed diabetic subjects.