Fiber and C-Reactive Protein in Diabetes, Hypertension, and Obesity

Elevated levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) have been associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease among the general population (1–6). People with diabetes (7), hypertension (8), and obesity (9) have CRP levels that are higher than those in people without these conditions in the general population. Previous studies indicate an inverse association between dietary fiber intake and levels of inflammatory biomarkers (10,11). Acknowledging that individuals with certain conditions (e.g., diabetes) are at higher risk for elevated CRP, it is unclear whether intake of dietary fiber may have more impact on inflammatory markers among such people. To investigate the relationship between dietary fiber and inflammatory markers in people with diabetes, hypertension, and obesity, we conducted a study using the nationally representative 1999–2002 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). We conducted an analysis of the 1999–2002 NHANES (http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhanes.htm). Our sample was limited to participants ≥20 years of age who had valid high-sensitivity CRP measurements and dietary information (unweighted n = 7,891). The study was approved by the institutional review board at the Medical University of South Carolina. Individuals were considered to have a previous diagnosis of diabetes or hypertension based on questions asking whether the individual had ever been told by a doctor that he or she had the condition. People with …