C-reactive protein, or CRP, is a protein produced by your liver in response to inflammation. It was originally identified in 1930 by researchers at the Rockefeller Institute who discovered it reacted with the C polysaccharide from pneumococcus, which is a bacterium that causes pneumonia. Scientists now know that infections, cancer, cardiovascular disease, rheumatoid arthritis and many other inflammatory conditions prompt a rise in CRP levels. Dietary factors that contribute to systemic inflammation may also influence your CRP.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil and certain plant seed oils -- flax, hemp, canola, walnut and pumpkin -- exert anti-inflammatory effects in your tissues. By competing with other fatty acids for enzymatic metabolism, omega-3 fatty acids reduce the production of inflammatory molecules in your cells. Furthermore, scientists have discovered that the products of enzymatic conversion of omega-fatty acids -- protectins, resolvins and maresins -- actively fight inflammation and help return your cells and tissues to a normal physiologic state.
Fats
In his book, "Fat Detection: Taste, Texture, and Post Ingestive Effects," Frits Muskiet reports that the composition of fats in the Western diet is far different from what it was for ancient peoples. The high proportions of saturated and trans fats in the diets of modern cultures are partly responsible for a pro-inflammatory state that is a major contributor to heart disease, diabetes and other chronic conditions. The American Heart Association recommends that fats comprise less than 35 percent of your total daily energy intake, and that saturated and trans fats contribute less than 7 percent and 1 percent, respectively, to your total daily caloric consumption.
Sugars
Dietary sugars contribute to systemic inflammation in at least two ways. Sugars consumed in excess of your energy needs are converted to triglycerides, which are inflammatory in nature. Sugars are also converted to advanced glycation end products, or AGEs, in your cells. According to a June 2010 "World Journal of Gastroenterology" review, AGEs increase insulin resistance and contribute to inflammation, both of which are characteristics of metabolic syndrome. AGEs are also believed to contribute to the aging process in many tissues, such as your joints, arteries and eyes.
Considerations
CRP is a non-specific measure of inflammation in your system. It can rise in response to nearly any inflammatory condition. CRP is measured by some physicians to gauge your risk for cardiovascular disease. A study published in the February 2011 "British Journal of Nutrition" demonstrated that CRP levels fell in obese individuals when they simply modified their fat consumption to meet AHA guidelines. By reducing total fat consumption, limiting saturated and trans fat intake, increasing your consumption of omega-3 fatty acids and avoiding simple sugars, you could see beneficial changes in your CRP. At the very least, you would reduce the level of inflammation in your tissues.
References
- "Journal of Experimental Medicine"; Serological Reactions in Pneumonia with a Non-Protein Somatic Fraction of Pneumococcus; W.S. Tillett, T. Francis; June 1930
- "Journal of Internal Medicine"; Profiling in Resolving Inflammatory Exudates Identifies Novel Anti-inflammatory and Pro-Resolving Mediators and Signals for Termination; L.V. Norling, C.N. Serhan; April 2010
- "Fat Detection: Taste, Texture, and Post Ingestive Effects"; Pathophysiology and Evolutionary Aspects of Dietary Fats and Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids across the Life Cycle; Frits A.J. Muskiet; 2010
- American Heart Association: Know Your Fats
- "World Journal of Gastroenterology"; Soft Drinks Consumption and Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease; W. Nseir, et al.; June 2010
- "British Journal of Nutrition"; Effects on Markers of Inflammation and Endothelial Cell Function of Three Ad Libitum Diets Differing in Type and Amount of Fat and Carbohydrate: A 6-Month Randomized Study in Obese Individuals; E. Bladbjerg, et al.; February 2011
