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C-REACTIVE PROTEIN

July, 2006 update - Inflammation has risen to the level of free radicals in its consequences for long term health and its importance in the disease process, through mechanisms caused by free radicals, and by other mechanisms independent of free radicals. Pable 3 AJCN83: 1511S (June 2006) lists 20+ conditions related to inflammation - arthritis, diabetes, asthma, psoriasis, MS, brain degenerative diseases, obesity, heart disease, cancer, etc. One easy remedy to reduce inflammation is to increase the ratio of omega-3 fatty acids in the diet.

A key marker of inflammation is C-reactive protein (CRP). This compound is produced when the body feels like something is attacking it. One effect is that it causes blood clots which can cause heart attacks. Frequent reports now indicate that like LDL, the harmful kind of cholesterol, C-reactive protein (CRP) is a serious risk factor for heart attack. It is also associated with risk for diabetes.

Am J Med 2003; 115; 702-7, reports on whether taking a multivitamin would help reduce the level of C-reactive protein in people. The report must be read carefully, as it was conducted by a private institute and was sponsored by private contributions. But it was a double blind, placebo-controlled study of 87 people mean age 53 for six months.

The conclusion is somewhat misleading also. "multivitamin use was associated with lower C-reactive protein levels." This is a good thing, to have C-reactive protein levels decrease. But they went further, if one reads the results. "only vitamin B6 and vitamin C were inversely associated with C-reactive protein."

In other words, getting a high dose of vitamin C and a diet with plenty of vegetables is the main way to reduce C-reactive protein in your body, helping you stay healthy.

Dietary fatty acids affect plasma markers of inflammation in healthy men fed controlled diets: a randomized crossover study Am J Clin Nutr 2004 79: 969-973.

Conclusions: These data provide evidence that dietary fattyacids can modulate markers of inflammation. Although stearicacid minimally affects LDL cholesterol, it does appear to increasefibrinogen concentrations.[This study compares diets enriched with carbohydrate, unsaturated fat, saturated fat, or trans-fat, and measured markers of inflammation.  Stearic acid is saturated fat.  Both saturated fat and trans-fat increased markers for inflammation such as CRP.  Inflammation is now known to cause heart disease.  So this study demonstrates that consumption of a saturated fat meal, like a big hamburger and French fries, or consumption of margarine, has a clear mechanism to contribute to a heart attack.]

see also Multivitamins