{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,30]],"date-time":"2026-07-30T16:33:17Z","timestamp":1785429197083,"version":"3.56.0"},"reference-count":35,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"6","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,23]],"date-time":"2026-05-23T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1779494400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Soonchunhyang University Research Fund"},{"id":[{"id":"https:\/\/ror.org\/03qjsrb10","id-type":"ROR","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Medicina"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background and Objectives: C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of systemic inflammation, is frequently elevated in individuals with excessive adiposity. However, the relationship between specific body fat parameters and CRP levels across sexes and age groups remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the association between CRP levels and body fat parameters using data from the 2022 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Methods: A total of 3369 participants (representing 32,635,626 Korean adults) were included. Demographic, lifestyle, and clinical data were collected, and body composition parameters were measured using bioelectrical impedance analysis. The primary exposure variables included fat mass index (FMI; total body fat mass\/height2) and trunk fat mass. The primary outcome was log-transformed high-sensitivity CRP (ln[hsCRP]). Pearson correlation and sex-stratified multivariate linear regression analyses were performed. Results: The mean age of participants was 49.6 years, and 53.3% were male. ln[hsCRP] was positively associated with body mass index, waist circumference, total body fat mass, FMI, appendicular fat mass, and trunk fat mass in both sexes (all p &lt; 0.001). FMI showed a stronger association with ln[hsCRP] in females (r = 0.373) than in males (r = 0.232). In multivariable analyses, FMI remained independently associated with ln[hsCRP] in both males (\u03b2 = 0.10) and females (\u03b2 = 0.14), with a stronger effect observed in females. Trunk fat mass was also independently associated with ln[hsCRP] (\u03b2 = 0.06 in males; \u03b2 = 0.10 in females). Age-stratified analyses demonstrated that these associations were more pronounced in younger adults (19\u201340 years old) than in those aged 41\u201370 years. Conclusions: In Korean adults, total and truncal fat masses were independently associated with systemic inflammation, and this association was stronger among females and younger adults.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/medicina62061014","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,25]],"date-time":"2026-05-25T00:30:33Z","timestamp":1779669033000},"page":"1014","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["The Association Between Serum C-Reactive Protein Levels and Body Fat Parameters: Results from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"62","author":[{"given":"Hyemin","family":"Jeong","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital, Bucheon 14584, Republic of Korea"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,23]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"690","DOI":"10.2337\/diacare.28.3.690","article-title":"Cardiovascular disease in U.S. Patients with metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and elevated C-reactive protein","volume":"28","author":"Malik","year":"2005","journal-title":"Diabetes Care"},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Koziarska-Ro\u015bciszewska, M., Gluba-Brz\u00f3zka, A., Franczyk, B., and Rysz, J. (2021). High-sensitivity C-reactive protein relationship with metabolic disorders and cardiovascular diseases risk factors. Life, 11.","DOI":"10.3390\/life11080742"},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Emerging Risk Factors Collaboration, Kaptoge, S., Di Angelantonio, E., Lowe, G., Pepys, M.B., Thompson, S.G., Collins, R., and Danesh, J. (2010). C-reactive protein concentration and risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, and mortality: An individual participant meta-analysis. Lancet, 375, 132\u2013140.","DOI":"10.1016\/S0140-6736(09)61717-7"},{"key":"ref_4","first-page":"e22711","article-title":"Obesity: A chronic low-grade inflammation and its markers","volume":"14","author":"Khanna","year":"2022","journal-title":"Cureus"},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"129","DOI":"10.1016\/j.mce.2009.08.018","article-title":"Adipose tissue as an endocrine organ","volume":"316","author":"Galic","year":"2010","journal-title":"Mol. Cell Endocrinol."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"867","DOI":"10.1139\/cjpp-2013-0050","article-title":"Metabolic inflammation: Role of cytokines in the crosstalk between adipose tissue and liver","volume":"91","author":"Gerner","year":"2013","journal-title":"Can. J. Physiol. Pharmacol."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Liu, P., Ma, F., Lou, H., and Liu, Y. (2013). The utility of fat mass index vs. body mass index and percentage of body fat in the screening of metabolic syndrome. BMC Public Health, 13.","DOI":"10.1186\/1471-2458-13-629"},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"821","DOI":"10.2337\/dc13-1353","article-title":"Structural and functional properties of deep abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue explain its association with insulin resistance and cardiovascular risk in men","volume":"37","author":"Marinou","year":"2014","journal-title":"Diabetes Care"},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"20180012","DOI":"10.1515\/hmbci-2018-0012","article-title":"Obesity associated disease risk: The role of inherent differences and location of adipose depots","volume":"33","author":"Hill","year":"2018","journal-title":"Horm. Mol. Biol. Clin. Investig."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"216","DOI":"10.1016\/j.atherosclerosis.2005.04.011","article-title":"Sex differences in the relation of body composition to markers of inflammation","volume":"184","author":"Thorand","year":"2006","journal-title":"Atherosclerosis"},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e029861","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjopen-2019-029861","article-title":"C reactive protein level as a marker for dyslipidaemia, diabetes and metabolic syndrome: Results from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey","volume":"9","author":"Jeong","year":"2019","journal-title":"BMJ Open"},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"116","DOI":"10.4082\/kjfm.17.0075","article-title":"Association between C-reactive protein and metabolic syndrome in Korean adults","volume":"40","author":"Song","year":"2019","journal-title":"Korean J. Fam. Med."},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"35","DOI":"10.4093\/dmj.2014.38.1.35","article-title":"Prevalence, awareness, and management of obesity in Korea: Data from the Korea national health and nutrition examination survey (1998\u20132011)","volume":"38","author":"Kim","year":"2014","journal-title":"Diabetes Metab. J."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Jo, G., Park, D., Kim, S., Jun, H.J., Magkos, F., Merino, J., Sun, Q., Kim, R., Subramanian, S.V., and Franks, P.W. (2026). Obesity transitions by age, period, and cohort: A population-based application of the Lancet Commission Framework in the United States and Korea. Korean Diabetes J., Online ahead of print.","DOI":"10.4093\/dmj.2025.0918"},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"C375","DOI":"10.1152\/ajpcell.00379.2020","article-title":"Adipose tissue inflammation and metabolic dysfunction in obesity","volume":"320","author":"Kawai","year":"2021","journal-title":"Am. J. Physiol. Cell. Physiol."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"105972","DOI":"10.1016\/j.biocel.2021.105972","article-title":"Unwrapping the mechanisms of ceramide and fatty acid-initiated signals leading to immune-inflammatory responses in obesity","volume":"135","author":"Kucuk","year":"2021","journal-title":"Int. J. Biochem. Cell Biol."},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"355","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1365-2265.2006.02474.x","article-title":"The endocrine function of adipose tissue: An update","volume":"64","author":"Ronti","year":"2006","journal-title":"Clin. Endocrinol."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"851","DOI":"10.5114\/aoms.2016.58928","article-title":"Obesity and inflammation: The linking mechanism and the complications","volume":"13","author":"Ellulu","year":"2017","journal-title":"Arch. Med. Sci."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1899","DOI":"10.1016\/j.numecd.2023.05.026","article-title":"Body composition markers from classic anthropometry, bioelectrical impedance analysis, and magnetic resonance imaging are associated with inflammatory markers in the general population","volume":"33","author":"Bibi","year":"2023","journal-title":"Nutr. Metab. Cardiovasc. Dis."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Liu, X., Zhang, Y., Li, Y., Sang, Y., Chai, Y., Zhang, L., and Zhang, H. (2024). Systemic immunity-inflammation index is associated with body fat distribution among U.S. adults: Evidence from national health and nutrition examination survey 2011\u20132018. BMC Endocr. Disord., 24.","DOI":"10.1186\/s12902-024-01725-y"},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"463","DOI":"10.1210\/er.2012-1041","article-title":"Adiposity and insulin resistance in humans: The role of the different tissue and cellular lipid depots","volume":"34","author":"Hocking","year":"2013","journal-title":"Endocr. Rev."},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"281","DOI":"10.1016\/j.clinbiochem.2010.12.015","article-title":"Association of visceral and subcutaneous fat with glucose intolerance, insulin resistance, adipocytokines and inflammatory markers in Asian Indians (CURES-113)","volume":"44","author":"Indulekha","year":"2011","journal-title":"Clin. Biochem."},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2240","DOI":"10.1210\/jc.2006-1811","article-title":"Macrophage infiltration into omental versus subcutaneous fat across different populations: Effect of regional adiposity and the comorbidities of obesity","volume":"92","author":"Redel","year":"2007","journal-title":"J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab."},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"B4","DOI":"10.1093\/eurheartj\/sul002","article-title":"Abdominal obesity: The most prevalent cause of the metabolic syndrome and related cardiometabolic risk","volume":"8","year":"2006","journal-title":"Eur. Heart J. Suppl."},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Ichim, C., Boicean, A., Todor, S.B., Anderco, P., and B\u00eerlu\u021biu, V. (2025). Fecal microbiota transplantation in patients with alcohol-associated cirrhosis: A clinical trial. J. Clin. Med., 14.","DOI":"10.3390\/jcm14175981"},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3251","DOI":"10.1210\/jc.2008-2406","article-title":"Sex differences in the relationship between C-reactive protein and body fat","volume":"94","author":"Khera","year":"2009","journal-title":"J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab."},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1763","DOI":"10.1038\/s41366-025-01816-3","article-title":"Association between adiposity distribution and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, adipokines, interleukins and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1","volume":"49","author":"Craveiro","year":"2025","journal-title":"Int. J. Obes."},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e000223","DOI":"10.1161\/JAHA.124.000223","article-title":"Sex differences in protein biomarkers and measures of fat distribution","volume":"13","author":"Ramirez","year":"2024","journal-title":"J. Am. Heart Assoc."},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"615917","DOI":"10.1155\/2014\/615917","article-title":"Estrogen signaling in metabolic inflammation","volume":"2014","author":"Monteiro","year":"2014","journal-title":"Mediat. Inflamm."},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3410","DOI":"10.1038\/s41467-024-47687-6","article-title":"An estrogen receptor \u03b1-derived peptide improves glucose homeostasis during obesity","volume":"15","author":"Yang","year":"2024","journal-title":"Nat. Commun."},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Eaton, S.A., and Sethi, J.K. (2019). Immunometabolic links between estrogen, adipose tissue and female reproductive metabolism. Biology, 8.","DOI":"10.3390\/biology8010008"},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"457","DOI":"10.1177\/0004563212473445","article-title":"An association between body mass index and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein concentrations is influenced by age in community-dwelling persons","volume":"50","author":"Kawamoto","year":"2013","journal-title":"Ann. Clin. Biochem."},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Kosovski, I.B., Bac\u00e2rea, V., Ghiga, D., Ciurea, C.N., Cucoranu, D.C., Hutanu, A., and Bac\u00e2rea, A. (2024). Exploring the link between inflammatory biomarkers and adipometrics in healthy young adults aged 20\u201335 Years. Nutrients, 16.","DOI":"10.3390\/nu16020257"},{"key":"ref_34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Li, A., Tu, M.T., Sousa, A.C., Alvarado, B., Kone, G.K., Guralnik, J., and Zunzunegui, M.V. (2015). Early life adversity and C-reactive protein in diverse populations of older adults: A cross-sectional analysis from the International Mobility in Aging Study (IMIAS). BMC Geriatr., 15.","DOI":"10.1186\/s12877-015-0104-2"},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"185","DOI":"10.1038\/oby.2010.75","article-title":"Adiposity in childhood is related to C-reactive protein and adiponectin in young adulthood: From the Bogalusa Heart Study","volume":"19","author":"Toprak","year":"2011","journal-title":"Obesity"}],"container-title":["Medicina"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1648-9144\/62\/6\/1014\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,25]],"date-time":"2026-05-25T01:00:47Z","timestamp":1779670847000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1648-9144\/62\/6\/1014"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,23]]},"references-count":35,"journal-issue":{"issue":"6","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,6]]}},"alternative-id":["medicina62061014"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/medicina62061014","relation":{},"ISSN":["1648-9144"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1648-9144","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,23]]}}}