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Interindividual Variation in Chronic Inflammation in Northern Lao People's Democratic Republic
Zhuren Zhang1, Mihoko Kibe1, Yuki Mizuno1
1Department of Human Ecology, School of International Health, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
American Journal of Biological Anthropology
|August 5, 2026
Summary
Market integration in rural Laos increases C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, a marker of chronic inflammation. Dietary shifts from foraging to market foods may explain this rise in non-communicable disease risk.
Area of Science:
- Nutritional Epidemiology
- Public Health
- Global Health
Background:
- Market access is altering food systems in developing countries, potentially increasing non-communicable disease (NCD) risk.
- Dietary transitions from traditional to market-driven foods are suspected to promote chronic inflammation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between dietary transition and C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations in rural Laos.
- To assess chronic inflammation biomarkers across villages with varying market integration.
Main Methods:
- 380 adults in three Lao villages with differing market exposure were surveyed.
- Dietary patterns were analyzed using principal component analysis and linked to CRP levels via logistic regression.
- Dried blood spots measured CRP; analyses accounted for seasonal variations.
Main Results:
- Higher C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations were observed in villages with greater market integration.
- A dietary pattern rich in wild foraged foods and low in market foods showed a negative association with elevated CRP in the dry season.
- This suggests a link between market-driven diets and increased inflammation.
Conclusions:
- Residents in more market-integrated villages exhibited higher CRP levels.
- The dietary shift from foraging to market dependence may contribute to increased chronic inflammation and NCD risk in these populations.
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