Sanjay Kapur, Walther Meyer, Sonia Kapur and David Zava ZRT Laboratory, Beaverton, Oregon
Background: Individuals with conditions of inflammation, insulin resistance and obesity are at higher risk of developing cardiovascular and metabolic disorders. Components of cardio-metabolic and metabolic syndrome have been reported to correlate with increased levels of insulin and inflammatory markers like C-reactive protein. Evaluation of fasting blood insulin, C-reactive protein and triglycerides in dried blood spot may help patients and their physicians plan an intervention program against related risk factors.
Patients and Methods: Fifty individuals with ages ranging from 10 to 68 years responded to an advertisement asking for volunteers for a study to evaluate the metabolic syndrome wellness program. Only overweight individuals were asked to reply. After giving informed consent and having the protocol of the study explained, volunteers submitted a finger stick blood sample that was tested for fasting blood insulin, high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and triglycerides. The premise of the study was to use the fasting blood insulin as a measure of an individual's insulin resistance.
Results: Nineteen individuals with clinical manifestations of metabolic syndrome had fasting blood insulin levels less than 8 and were considered to have normal insulin resistance. The majority of these individuals had significant weight loss of 10 to 20 pounds before entering the wellness program. Significant findings from this study were elevations of the hs-CRP. This was also true for the individuals who had apparently regained normal insulin sensitivity by exercise and weight loss. A relationship was also noted between lower hs CRP and eating four helpings of fresh fruits and vegetables daily.
Conclusions: One might hypothesize that glycated proteins from previously elevated insulin levels resulted in a continuing inflammation or immune problem. If possible we will try to determine if glyconutrients might tend to normalize the hs-C-reactive protein. The next phase of this study will be to correlate the volunteers' new information about the factors causing insulin resistance and their ability to change nutrition and lifestyle to reverse the increased health risks of metabolic syndrome.
This abstract was published in the ADA annual meeting proceedings (Diabetes Supplement June 2007)
Walther Meyer MD., CMD.
Nutrimed@tds.net