Association among C-reactive protein, oxidative stress, and traditional risk factors in healthy Japanese subjects

Background Inflammation and oxidative stress play a key role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. This study was designed to examine the interrelationships among C-reactive protein (CRP), oxidative stress, and traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional analysis among 551 apparently healthy Japanese subjects not receiving medication (mean age, 53 ± 11 years; males/females, 400/151). Subject underwent laboratory assessment of cardiovascular disease risk factors, and CRP and 8-isoprostane, a marker of oxidative stress, were measured. Results In unadjusted analyses, CRP was positively correlated with age, male gender, body mass index, blood pressure, smoking habit, creatinine, uric acid, triglycerides, an index of insulin resistance, and 8-isoprostane, and inversely correlated with high-density lipoprotein–cholesterol. 8-Isoprostane was positively correlated with age, pulse pressure, smoking habit, brain natriuretic peptide, and CRP. In multiple regression analyses, body mass index (r = 0.177), high-density lipoprotein–cholesterol (r = − 0.162), uric acid (r = 0.141), and 8-isoprostane (r = 0.097) were independently correlated with CRP (P < 0.001), whereas smoking (r = 0.341), age (r = 0.217), and pulse pressure (r = 0.091) remained independently correlated with 8-isoprostane (P < 0.001). Conclusions CRP levels are associated not only with clinical cardiovascular risk factors but also with oxidative stress. There are significant interrelationships among inflammation, oxidative stress, and traditional cardiovascular risk factors.