The relationship between body fat and C-reactive protein in middle-aged Korean population

High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) has been identified as a strong independent risk factor of cardiovascular events. However, few data are available on hsCRP levels and their relationship with body fatness in Asian populations. We evaluated the relationships between hsCRP and various obesity indices: weight, body mass index (BMI), fat mass (FM), fat percent (F, %), waist circumference (WC), waist–hip ratio (WHR), and subscapular and suprailiac skinfold thicknesses in a community-based Korean cohort with hsCRP ≤10 mg/l (n = 9773, age = 40–69 years, a rural and an urban community was selected). The median hsCRP level was 1.4 mg/l (interquartile range 0.6–2.4 mg/l). Of obesity indices examined, F, % was most strongly correlated with log-transformed hsCRP levels (r = 0.18 in men, 0.24 in women, respectively, P < 0.01). In multiple regression model including age, sex, community, blood pressure, BMI, WC, WHR, fasting glucose, insulin, lipids, smoking, alcohol and exercise, F, % was most potently associated with hsCRP (P < 0.0001). F, % accounted for 13.8% of the variability in hsCRP level, whereas other factors less than 6%. This result suggests that F, % is a strong associating factor of hsCRP levels of the various obesity indices in middle-aged Korean population.