RESULTS Weight loss was associated with a decline in CRP level .
Our results suggest that weight loss may be an effective nonpharmacologic strategy for lowering CRP level
BACKGROUND Several studies suggest that weight loss reduces C-reactive protein ( CRP ) level ; however , the consistency and magnitude of this effect has not been well characterized .
Our objective was to test the hypothesis that weight loss is directly related to a decline in CRP level .
Serum levels of C-reactive protein are associated with obesity, weight gain, and hormone replacement therapy in healthy postmenopausal women.
The authors evaluated the cross-sectional and prospect i ve associations between the serum concentration of C-reactive protein and measures of obesity and fat distribution , hormone replacement therapy ( HRT ) use , and serum sex hormones in postmenopausal women from the Healthy Women Study ( Allegheny County , Pennsylvania , 1998 ) . The authors tested the hypothesis that C-reactive protein levels would be higher among  HRT users and among women with greater body mass index , waist circumference , or visceral fat . There were 207 women in the study who were > or = 8 years postmenopausal ( 101 HRT users and 106 HRT nonusers ) . The median levels of C-reactive protein were 3.01 mg/liter in HRT users compared with 1.74 mg/liter in nonusers ( p = 0.002 ) . C-reactive protein levels were strongly positively correlated with measures of body size , fatness , fat distribution , and weight gain among HRT users and nonusers . C-reactive protein was also positively correlated with serum estrone levels ( r(s ) = 0.38 ) among HRT nonusers . The highest level of C-reactive protein was found among HRT users in the highest quartile of visceral fat ( 4.29 mg/liter ) compared with women not on HRT and in the lowest quartile of visceral fat ( 0.96 mg/liter ) . The use of HRT and measures of overall body fatness are important correlates of C-reactive protein among postmenopausal women
RESULTS Weight loss was associated with a decline in CRP level .
Our results suggest that weight loss may be an effective nonpharmacologic strategy for lowering CRP level
BACKGROUND Several studies suggest that weight loss reduces C-reactive protein ( CRP ) level ; however , the consistency and magnitude of this effect has not been well characterized .
Our objective was to test the hypothesis that weight loss is directly related to a decline in CRP level .