Association Between Lifestyle and Dietary Habits With C-Reactive Protein and Glucose: A Cross-Sectional Study

Lifestyle and diet influence chronic disease risk through their impact on systemic inflammation. This research evaluated the association among dietary habits, physical activity, and inflammatory biomarkers, specifically glucose and C-reactive protein (CRP).

This cross-sectional study examined lifestyle, sociodemographic, and nutritional indicators using a structured questionnaire, which was adapted from the WHO STEPwise guideline. A total of 200 participants were included based on their attendance for CRP and glucose assays at two health centers between May and September 2023 in Bangladesh.

Among participants with high fiber intake (> 20 g/day), 22% had normal blood glucose levels and 25.5% showed slightly increased CRP values. In contrast, among those with low fiber intake (< 10 g/day), 28% had pre-diabetes, 23.5% had diabetes, and a moderate 56% exhibited moderately increased CRP levels. Besides, participants with higher saturated fat intake (> 10 g/day) showed moderate CRP elevations in 50%, pre-diabetes in 24%, and diabetes in 19.5%, whereas those with lower intake (< 10 g/day) exhibited smaller CRP elevations in 28.5% and normal blood sugar levels in 27.5% of the group. Participants with a habit of rare or once-weekly physical activity had pre-diabetes in 38.5%, diabetes in 27%, and moderate CRP elevations in 57% of their group. On the contrary, those reporting regular physical activity demonstrated lower CRP levels in 20.5% and normal sugar levels in 34.5% of their group. Intake of fruit, vegetables, red meat, seafood, sugary drinks, high-sugar foods, and smoking showed statistically significant associations with inflammatory biomarkers (p < 0.05); however, water intake did not exhibit a similar association. Glucose and CRP levels were found to be significantly associated with age, dietary factors (fiber, saturated fat, red meat, sugary diet), and lifestyle behaviors (physical activity, smoking), whereas sociodemographic factors (gender and education) showed no statistically significant associations.

The findings highlight associations between diet and physical activity and inflammatory markers, suggesting the necessity for focused public health interventions.