Association between the intake of vitamins and trace elements from supplements and C-reactive protein: results of the MONICA/KORA Augsburg study

Abstract

Objective: To examine the association between plasma concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP) and the intake of vitamins and trace elements from supplements possibly related to inflammation such as vitamin C, vitamin E, carotenoids, selenium and zinc. Design: Cross-sectional study using data from the Monitoring of Trends and Determinants in Cardiovascular Disease/ Cooperative Health Research in the Region of Augsburg (MONICA/KORA) Survey 1994/95. Setting: Region of Augsburg, Southern Germany. Subjects: Population-based sample of 2045 women and 2172 men, aged 25-74 years. Results: Intake of dietary supplements containing vitamins and trace elements was associated with lower CRP levels in women.Especially vitamin E in combination with other vitamins like vitamin C, vitamin B 1 , B 2 , B 6 , B 12 , niacin, folic acid, pantothenic acid and selenium, was significantly associated with lower CRP levels. Odds ratios for elevated CRP levels (43.0 mg/l) after multivariable adjustment were 0.57 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.37, 0.89) for the intake of vitamin E and 0.57 (95% CI: 0.35, 0.91) for the intake of multivitamins, defined as taking three or more different vitamins. These associations were not seen in men. Intake of vitamin C, carotenoids or zinc was not significantly associated with levels of CRP in both men and women. Conclusions: Our data indicate that the intake of certain vitamins and trace elements from supplements is associated with lower CRP concentrations in women. Thus, intake of these micronutrients could influence the inflammatory process underlying the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Specific dose response relationships and the best combinations of vitamins and trace elements have to be determined in further studies.

Antioxidant intake from diet and supplements and elevated serum C-reactive protein and plasma homocysteine concentrations in US adults: a cross-sectional study

“…A German study of the MONICA/KORA Augsburg cohort (23) reported an inverse association of vitamin E intake from supplements with plasma CRP concentrations but did not find an association with Se intake. However, the same study was not in accordance with our findings on vitamin C and carotene intakes.…”

Selenium intake reduces serum C3, an early marker of metabolic syndrome manifestations, in healthy young adults

“…Previously, some investigations have linked serum selenium concentrations with inflammatory biomarkers such as CRP, suggesting circulating CRP as a negative predictor of serum selenium (Ghayour-Mobarhan et al, 2005). On the other hand, vitamin and mineral supplementation is associated with lower concentrations of CRP in women, specially with selenium and vitamin E supplementation (Scheurig et al, 2007).…”

“…In this context, the intake of selenium and other antioxidants has been associated with lower C-reactive protein (CRP) in women, suggesting a possible anti-inflammatory role for antioxidant nutrients (Scheurig et al, 2007). Furthermore, a high selenium intake has been proposed to reduce the risk of diseases induced by oxidative stress and inflammation (Ferencik and Ebringer, 2003) and has been related to changes in lipid metabolism (Bleys et al, 2008).…”

Antioxidant Status and the Risk of Elevated C-Reactive Protein 12 Years Later

“…Besides the observational studies, some trials have investigated the effect of supplementation with antioxidant nutrients on inflammatory biomarkers, with somewhat inconsistent results [29,30,31,32,33,34,35,36]. A meta-analysis of the results of supplementation trials with antioxidant nutrients conducted in healthy populations concluded that supplementation did not significantly reduce CRP levels [29].…”