hsCRP In healthy volunteers: correlation with some of the lipid and nonlipid cardiovascular risk factors

Objectives: The role of inflammation has been well established in theories describing the atherosclerotic disease process and hsCRP has been proposed as the most suitable biomarker for routine clinical assessment of chronic low intensity inflammation. The aim of this study was to measure the concentrations of hsCRP in healthy volunteers and determine its correlation with some of the lipid (total cholesterol, triglycerides and HDL-cholesterol) and nonlipid (body mass index and waist circumference) cardiovascular risk factors. Methods: Only young (28±3 years old), healthy, physically active and well trained men were selected for the study. They all had two medical checks two weeks apart. In the study were included only those which values of ESR, CBC, urea, glucose, total bilirubin, AST and ALT were within normal ranges during both checks. 35 examinees (20 nonsmokers and 15 smokers) fulfilled the inclusion criteria. For hsCRP the lower value from two measurements was considered as a basal value. Results: hsCRP=0,75±0,40 mg/L, CHOL=5,4±1,2 mmol/L, TRIG=1,8±1,1 mmol/L, HDL=1,32±0,22 mmol/L, BMI=27,2±3,1 kg/m2, waist circumference=92±8 cm, without significant differences between smokers and nonsmokers for all parameters. Although there was not a statistically significant correlation between hsCRP and lipid cardiovascular risk factors, we have found significant correlation between hsCRP and BMI (r=0,40, p<0,05) and hsCRP and waist circumference (r=0,35, p