High-normal C-reactive protein levels do not affect the vitamin A transport complex in serum of children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes

Pediatr Res. 2007 Dec;62(6):741-5. doi: 10.1203/PDR.0b013e318158787e.

Abstract

Type 1 diabetes is associated with the presence of inflammation, which in turn affects parameters used to assess the vitamin A status. In the present study, we evaluated the influence of inflammatory status on retinol, retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4), and transthyretin (TTR) in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes. A total of 40 children with type 1 diabetes (median age, 14.2 y; median BMI-SDS, 0.53; median diabetes duration, 5.8 y; median HbA1c, 7.3%) and 46 healthy subjects (median age, 12.8 y; median BMI-SDS, 0.34; median HbA1c 5.4%) were recruited. Serum levels of CRP were significantly elevated (p = 0.005) and retinol concentrations were significantly lower (p = 0.02) in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes compared with healthy subjects. Serum RBP4 and TTR showed no differences between the groups. Healthy children with CRP levels above 0.6 mg/L had significant lower levels of retinol (p = 0.03). This was not observed in children with type 1 diabetes. The results suggest that, in contrast to healthy children, minor CRP elevation does not affect vitamin A transport complex in serum of children with type 1 diabetes.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • C-Reactive Protein / metabolism*
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Child
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / blood*
  • Down-Regulation
  • Humans
  • Inflammation / blood*
  • Prealbumin / analysis*
  • Retinol-Binding Proteins, Plasma / analysis*
  • Up-Regulation
  • Vitamin A / blood*

Substances

  • Prealbumin
  • RBP4 protein, human
  • Retinol-Binding Proteins, Plasma
  • Vitamin A
  • C-Reactive Protein