Related Experiment Videos
Body mass index and C-reactive protein in the healthy Korean aged men
Chang Won Won1, Sang Won Lee, Hyun Rim Choi
1Department of Family Medicine, College of Medicine, Kyung-Hee University, Seoul, Korea. chunwon62@dreamwiz.com
Insights
Lower body mass index (BMI) levels between 18.5-19.4 may be beneficial for elderly Korean men. This finding suggests a potential link between optimal BMI and reduced C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, indicating better cardiovascular health.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Biochemistry
- Public Health
Background:
- Plasma C-reactive protein (CRP) is a marker of inflammation and a predictor of cardiovascular disease risk.
- Body Mass Index (BMI) is a widely used indicator of body fatness, but its relationship with CRP in elderly populations, particularly in specific ethnic groups, requires further investigation.
- Understanding these relationships is crucial for developing targeted health recommendations for aging populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between plasma C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and body mass index (BMI) in elderly Korean men.
- To identify factors independently associated with CRP levels in this demographic.
- To explore the implications of different BMI ranges on CRP levels for cardiovascular health in elderly Korean men.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of health examination records from 367 elderly Korean men (2001 data) after excluding inflammatory conditions.
- Collection of data on body composition, blood pressure, blood samples, and radiological examinations.
- Statistical analysis including subgroup analyses (non-smokers, regular exercisers) and ANCOVA to assess associations between BMI, other health parameters, and logCRP.
Main Results:
- Age, BMI, smoking status, regular exercise, White Blood Cell (WBC) count, HDL-cholesterol, and gamma-glutamyl transferase were independently associated with logCRP.
- No significant difference in CRP levels was observed among BMI subgroups defined by the Asia-Pacific guideline.
- However, a significant association was found when BMI was subdivided using specific criteria, with the lowest CRP levels in the 18.5-19.4 BMI range, significantly differing from the highest BMI group (≥29.0).
Conclusions:
- While standard BMI categories did not show a clear link with CRP, a narrower BMI range of 18.5-19.4 was associated with lower CRP levels in elderly Korean men.
- Given that elevated CRP is linked to cardiovascular disease risk, maintaining a BMI within the 18.5-19.4 range may be advisable for healthy elderly Korean men.
- These findings highlight the importance of considering specific BMI ranges for optimizing cardiovascular health in elderly Asian populations.
Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between plasma C-reactive protein (CRP) and body mass index (BMI) in elderly Korean men. A review of routine health examination records were done. Out of 671 eligible elderly men, who had their routine health examination in 2001 at a Health Promotion Center of a university hospital, 367 subjects were included after excluding inflammatory conditions. Subgroup analyses were performed on those who did not smoke and exercised regularly. Body composition, blood pressure, blood samples and radiologic examinations including chest radiography and abdominal ultrasound were obtained from each subject. Age, BMI, current smoking, regular exercise, WBC count, HDL-cholesterol, gamma glutamyl transferase were independently associated with logCRP. BMI subgroups according to the Asia-Pacific guideline did not show any difference in CRP level from each other by ANCOVA (p>0.05). However, BMI groups subdivided according to our criteria showed an association with CRP; the CRP level was lowest in the group of BMI between 18.5-19.4 and showed significant difference from BMI group of the highest BMI group (>or=29.0). Since elevated CRP levels are associated with higher risk for cardiovascular disease, lower BMI (18.5-19.4) levels may be advised for healthy elderly men in Korea.
