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

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 62, pages 127–137 (2008)Cite this article

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 B1, B2, B6, B12, niacin, folic acid, pantothenic acid and selenium, was significantly associated with lower CRP levels. Odds ratios for elevated CRP levels (>3.0 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.

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Acknowledgements

The MONICA/KORA Augsburg studies were initiated and financed by the GSF - National Research Center for Environment and Health, which is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research and by the State of Bavaria. We thank all members of the GSF Institute of Epidemiology and the field staff in Augsburg who were involved in the planning and conduct of the MONICA/KORA Augsburg surveys. Specifically we wish to thank Ulrich Keil, PhD, MPH (University of Muenster), who was the principal investigator of the study and Angela Döring, MD (GSF), who initiated the creation of the supplement composition database. We thank Gerlinde Trischler for her excellent technical assistance. Finally, we express our appreciation to all study participants.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. GSF National Research Center for Environment and Health, Institute of Epidemiology, Neuherberg, Germany

    A C Scheurig, B Thorand, B Fischer & M Heier

  2. Department of Internal Medicine II-Cardiology, University of Ulm Medical Center, Ulm, Germany

    W Koenig

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  1. A C Scheurig
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  2. B Thorand
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Correspondence to B Thorand.

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Guarantor: B Thorand.

Contributors: ACS performed the statistical analysis and wrote the paper, as this work was her master's thesis. BT initiated and guided the analysis and contributed to the writing of the paper. BF built up the supplement composition database. WK was responsible for the CRP analysis. All authors critically revised and approved the paper.

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Scheurig, A., Thorand, B., Fischer, B. et al. Association between the intake of vitamins and trace elements from supplements and C-reactive protein: results of the MONICA/KORA Augsburg study. Eur J Clin Nutr 62, 127–137 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602687

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