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Obesity and Serum High Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein Levels Among Elderly Turkish Immigrants in the Netherlands with Type 2 Diabetes

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Abstract

The study examined the associations of anthropometric measures of obesity with high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels in Turkish immigrants with type 2 diabetes (T2D) living in the Netherlands. A total of 110 participants, physician-diagnosed with T2D, aged 30 years and older were recruited from multiple sources from The Hague, Netherlands. Serum hs-CRP levels were measured with immunoturbidimetric assay. Glycated hemoglobin (A1C) was determined by high-pressure liquid chromatography. Measures of obesity: body weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) were determined. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlations and multiple linear regressions (MLR) stratified by gender. Hs-CRP was log transformed to achieve normality. Subjects with hs-CRP levels >10 mg/L (n = 17) were excluded from the analysis. Females had a higher BMI (p = 0.007), HC (p < 0.001), and WHtR (p = 0.011) as compared to males. Conversely, males had a higher weight (p = 0.007), and WHR (p < 0.001) than females. MLR showed that after controlling for covariates, log hs-CRP was positively associated with BMI (B = 0.039, SE = 0.019, β = 0.287, p < 0.05), WC (B = 0.025, SE = 0.011, β = 0.332, p < 0.05) and WHtR (B = 4.015, SE = 1.464, β = 0.376, p < 0.01) in females only. Gender-specific associations between obesity measures and hs-CRP level need to be further investigated in the Turkish immigrant population. Hs-CRP assessment may be added as a standard of care for T2D treatment within this population.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dietetics and Nutrition, Florida International University, 11200 SW, 8th ST, AHC-I 430, Miami, FL, 33199, USA

    Shiryn D. Sukhram, Gustavo G. Zarini, Lamya H. Shaban, Joan A. Vaccaro & Fatma G. Huffman

  2. Department of Dietetics and Nutrition, Florida International University, 11200 SW, 8th ST, AHC-I 450, Miami, FL, 33199, USA

    Fatma G. Huffman

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  1. Shiryn D. Sukhram
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  2. Gustavo G. Zarini
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  5. Fatma G. Huffman
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Correspondence to Fatma G. Huffman.

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Sukhram, S.D., Zarini, G.G., Shaban, L.H. et al. Obesity and Serum High Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein Levels Among Elderly Turkish Immigrants in the Netherlands with Type 2 Diabetes. Ageing Int 39, 68–80 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12126-012-9149-0

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