DEXA measures of body fat percentage and acute phase proteins among breast cancer survivors

UnrestrictedObjective: To examine the association between body fat percentage as measured by DEXA and 2 systemic inflammatory markers, C-reactive protein (CRP) and Serum amyloid A protein (SAA) in breast cancer survivors and its modulation by lifestyle factors.; Design: Cross-sectional measures from a longitudinal study of breast cancer survivors.; Subjects: 138 non-Hispanic White and Hispanic breast cancer survivors participating in the Washington and New Mexico components of the Health, Eating, Activity, and Lifestyle (HEAL) Study.; Measures: DEXA measures of body fat percentage and circulating levels of 2 acute phase proteins (CRP, SAA) approximately 30 months after breast cancer diagnosis.; Results: Circulating levels of CRP and SAA were associated with increased adiposity as measured by DEXA. Breast cancer patients with body fat ≥35% had significantly higher CRP and SAA levels compared to non-obese patients. The data suggest that geometric mean levels of CRP are lower among obese women taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) compared to obese women not taking them and higher among women eating ≥ 1500 kcal/day, although neither of these associations was statistically significant. Physical activity and other lifestyle factors were not significant modifiers of the associations of CRP and SAA with percentage body fat.; Conclusion: Women with body fat ≥35% had higher mean levels of systemic inflammatory markers than women with lower body fat. Modest changes in lifestyle (e.g. taking NSAIDs or decreasing caloric intake ) may help to reduce circulating inflammatory markers, which may beneficially impact survival