C-reactive protein as an indicator of low intensity inflammation in children and adolescents with and without obesity.

OBJECTIVES To determine the levels of high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) in children/adolescents with and without obesity and their correlation with body mass index (BMI) and clinical and laboratory variables. METHODS A cross-sectional study comparing two parallel groups, one a group of overweight or obese children/adolescents (obesity group, n = 131) and the other a control group of children/adolescents without obesity (control group, n = 114). High sensitivity nephelometry was used to determine hsCRP concentrations. RESULTS The obesity group exhibited greater hsCRP concentrations than the control group (p < 0.0005). There were relationships between hsCRP and BMI (p < 0.0001) and hsCRP and triglycerides (p = 0.05). The relationship between hsCRP and triglycerides was attenuated by adjustment for BMI, losing its statistical significance (p = 0.10). CONCLUSIONS The hsCRP concentrations increased as BMI increased. The majority of individuals who were not overweight exhibited hsCRP concentrations of less than 2 mg/L.