Relationship between the serum c-reactive protein concentration and insulin resistance in type 2 diabetic patients

So-Young Kim,; Su-Jin Jeong,; Heung-Yong Jin,; Chong-Hwa Kim,; Hong-Sun Baek,; Tae-Sun Park,; Ji-Hyun Park,

Korean J Med > Volume 74(3); 2008 > Article

Original Article

The Korean Journal of Medicine 2008;74(3):281-287.

Relationship between the serum c-reactive protein concentration and insulin resistance in type 2 diabetic patients

So-Young Kim, Su-Jin Jeong, Heung-Yong Jin, Chong-Hwa Kim, Hong-Sun Baek, Tae-Sun Park, Ji-Hyun Park

경희대학교 의과대학 순환기내과학교실

원저 : 제2형 당뇨병 환자에서 혈청 C-reactive protein과 인슐린 저항성과의 관계

김소영 . 정수진 . 진흥용 . 김종화 . 백홍선 . 박태선 . 박지현, Su-Jin Jeong, Heung-Yong Jin, Chong-Hwa Kim, Hong-Sun Baek, Tae-Sun Park, Ji-Hyun Park

Abstract

Background/Aims : Low grade inflammation has been suggested to be a risk factor for development of atherosclerosis. C-reactive protein (CRP) is very sensitive acute phase reactant, and it is considered as an important marker of atherosclerosis and related disorder. Insulin resistance is also known to be associated with atherosclerosis. However, the relationship between insulin resistance and CRP has not been thoroughly studied in patients with type 2 diabetes. This study aimed to determine whether insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes is related with CRP. Methods : 102 subjects with type 2 diabetes were included in the study. Fasting blood samples were taken for measurement for CRP, insulin and glucose. To estimate insulin resistance, the HOMA (homeostasis model assessment)-IR (insulin resistance) was calculated by the standard formula. We divided the subjects into two groups depending on their CRP levels (Group A: <1 mg/L, Group B: ≥1 mg/L), and analyzed HOMA-IR indexes in each group. Results : There was significant correlation between CRP and HOMA-IR (r=0.4, p<0.01). HOMA-IR and fasting insulin levels in group B were higher than that of group A on the univariate analysis. On the multivariate analysis, among several variables such as fasting insulin, HOMA-IR, total cholesterol, and triglyceride, HOMA-IR were significantly related with CRP level independently. Conclusions : The serum CRP level, even if existed in normal range, was positively correlated with HOMA-IR in type 2 diabetes. Further studies are needed to determine the CRP level considered as clinically significant, and relating HOMA-IR. (Korean J Med 74:281-287, 2008)

Key Words: Insulin resistance; C-Reactive protein; Atherosclerosis