Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Obese dogs have lower blood levels of C-reactive protein than lean
By Veiga, Angela P M et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary diagnostic investigation : official publication of the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, Inc·2008·Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Association of canine obesity with reduced serum levels of C-reactive protein.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of overweight dogs was found to have lower levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), which is a marker for inflammation, compared to lean dogs. This suggests that obesity may inhibit the production of CRP in dogs, and the overweight dogs also showed signs of insulin resistance, meaning their bodies weren't responding well to insulin. The study involved blood tests that measured various factors, including insulin and cholesterol levels. Understanding these changes can help veterinarians manage health risks associated with obesity in dogs.
People also search for: dog obesity symptoms · why is my dog overweight · insulin resistance in dogs · dog cholesterol levels · C-reactive protein in dogs
Abstract
The prevalence of obesity is increasing in dogs as well as in humans. C-reactive protein (CRP) is an important tool for the detection of inflammation and/or early tissue damage and is linked to obesity in humans. The objective of the present study was to determine if serum CRP levels are altered in obese dogs. Fifteen lean (control group) and 16 overweight (obese group) dogs were examined. Blood samples were collected under fasted conditions for serum determination of CRP, glucose, insulin, cholesterol, triglyceride, and fructosamine. Results indicated that obese dogs were insulin resistant because serum insulin and insulin/glucose ratios were higher than in lean dogs (P < or = 0.05). Serum CRP concentrations were lower in obese dogs than in controls (P < or = 0.001). C-reactive protein was negatively correlated with insulin/glucose ratio (R = -0.42) and cholesterol (R = -0.39; P < or = 0.05). Furthermore, levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, and fructosamine were increased in the obese group compared with the control group. Based on these results, it can be postulated that CRP production is inhibited by obesity and insulin resistance in dogs.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18319438/