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A cross-sectional study of food group intake and C-reactive protein among children
M Mustafa Qureshi1, Martha R Singer1, Lynn L Moore1
1Section of Preventive Medicine and Epidemiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Harrison Court, 761 Harrison Ave, Boston, MA 02118, USA.
Insights
Children with higher C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, indicating inflammation, consumed fewer grains and vegetables. These dietary links to CRP in youth appear influenced by body composition.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Inflammation Biomarkers
- Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors
Background:
- C-reactive protein (CRP) is a key indicator of sub-clinical inflammation and a predictor of cardiovascular diseases.
- Dietary patterns significantly influence serum CRP levels, but specific food group associations in children require further elucidation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between the intake of various food groups and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in a pediatric population.
- To explore potential mediating roles of body composition in the diet-CRP association among children and adolescents.
Main Methods:
- Utilized cross-sectional data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (1999-2002) for 4,010 children and adolescents.
- Classified CRP levels as low, average, or high (<1.0, 1.0-3.0, >3.0 mg/L).
- Employed multivariate analysis of covariance to estimate mean daily intakes of food groups (dairy, grains, fruit, vegetables, meat/other proteins) across CRP categories, adjusting for covariates and exploring effect modification by age, gender, race/ethnicity, and body composition.
Main Results:
- Children and adolescents with high CRP levels exhibited significantly lower consumption of grains (p < 0.001) and vegetables (p = 0.0002).
- Specific food subgroups, such as fluid milk and certain fruits, showed stronger associations with lower CRP than their broader food groups.
- Meat/other protein intake did not correlate with CRP levels, and body composition variables partially explained the observed diet-CRP associations.
Conclusions:
- Higher C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in children and adolescents are associated with reduced intake of grains and vegetables.
- The link between specific dietary patterns and CRP levels in this age group is substantially mediated by body composition, including BMI Z-scores and waist circumference.
Background:
C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of sub-clinical inflammation, is a predictor of future cardiovascular diseases. Dietary habits affect serum CRP level however the relationship between consumption of individual food groups and CRP levels has not been established.
Methods:
This study was designed to explore the relation between food intake and CRP levels in children using data from the cross-sectional 1999-2002 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys. CRP level was classified as low, average or high (<1.0, 1.0-3.0, and >3.0 mg/L, respectively). Adjusted mean daily intakes of dairy, grains, fruit, vegetables, and meat/other proteins in each CRP category were estimated using multivariate analysis of covariance modeling. The effect modification by age (5-11 years vs. 12-16 years), gender and race/ethnicity was explored. We examined whether total or central body fat (using BMI Z-scores and waist circumference) explained any of the observed associations.
Results:
A total of 4,010 children and adolescents had complete information on diet, CRP and all covariates of interest and were included in the analyses. Individuals with high CRP levels had significantly lower intake of grains (p < 0.001) and vegetables (p = 0.0002). Selected individual food subgroups (e.g., fluid milk and "citrus, melon and berry" consumption) were more strongly associated with lower CRP than were their respective major food groups. Consumption of meat/other proteins did not influence CRP levels. The addition of body composition variables to the models attenuated the results for all food groups to varying degrees.
Conclusion:
Children and adolescents with higher CRP levels had significantly lower intakes of grains and vegetables. The associations between selected childhood dietary patterns and CRP levels seem largely mediated through effects on body composition.
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