Visceral adiposity and leptin are independently associated with C-reactive protein in Korean type 2 diabetic patients

The inflammatory marker, C-reactive protein (CRP) is associated with long-term cardiovascular events. The aim of the study was to investigate the factors contributing to serum CRP, assess the relationship between CRP level and the parameters of visceral obesity, and examine the association between leptin and CRP level in type 2 diabetic patients. 150 patients with type 2 diabetes were enrolled. These patients were recently diagnosed (≤3 years) with type 2 diabetes and were drug naive or taking sulfonylureas only. BMI, WC, and serum concentration of CRP, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), glucose, lipids, plasminogen activator-1 (PAI-1) and leptin were measured. Insulin resistance was estimated by the insulin resistance index of homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR). We measured the carotid intima-media thickness (IMT). Fat mass assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptionmetry and abdominal fat distribution was determined by CT scan. Serum concentration of CRP was significantly correlated with BMI (γ = 0.257, P<0.01), WC (γ = 0.293, P<0.01), fat mass (γ = 0.213, P<0.01), total adipose tissue (γ = 0.263, P<0.01), visceral adipose tissue (γ = 0.296, P<0.01), insulin (γ = 0.189, P = 0.047), PAI-1 (γ = 0.206, P<0.01), leptin (γ = 0.322, P<0.01), mean IMT (γ = 0.132, P = 0.042), and HOMA-IR (γ = 0.172, P = 0.045). After adjustment for age and gender, multiple regression analysis showed that serum CRP was significantly associated with leptin (β = 0.326, P = 0.01) and visceral adipose tissue (β = 0.265, P = 0.035). In conclusion, serum CRP level is significantly associated with obesity, especially the visceral adipose tissue, and serum leptin is another important independent factor associated with CRP in Korean type 2 diabetic patients.