C-Reactive Protein and Its Association with Future Heart Disease

Two studies recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine discuss lowering C-reactive protein and its association with future heart disease. Evidence was provided that reducing C-reactive protein through statin use results in reduced risk of heart disease, independent of changes in cholesterol.

"One interesting finding from these studies is that statin drugs do not appear to be effective for reducing C-reactive protein in all patients," said Tim Church, M.D., Ph.D., M.P.H., a vice president at The Cooper Institute. "In fact, the authors in one of the studies commented that other means of reducing C-reactive protein need to be identified."

The Cooper Institute reported in December 2003 that one way to lower C-reactive protein is through the use of a multivitamin called Cooper Complete.

Vitamin Supplementation Lowers C-Reactive Protein Levels

DALLAS – A study published this month in The American Journal of Medicine states that an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease, C-reactive protein (CRP), can be reduced by simply consuming a multivitamin. The study, led by Timothy Church, M.D., M.P.H., Ph.D., vice president of research at The Cooper Institute, showed that a group taking a 24-ingredient multivitamin reduced its CRP level by 32 percent. The greatest reductions in CRP were found in individuals with elevated baseline values.

CRP has been identified as an important predictor of future heart disease, but there has been limited proven therapeutic means to reduce CRP. Though in need of confirmation by other studies, the finding that a multivitamin improves CRP provides a low cost, safe and widely acceptable option for reducing CRP.

"While there is still a lot to be understood about C-reactive protein and its relationship with heart disease," said Church, "it is reaffirming to know that taking a multivitamin could significantly improve an important cardiovascular disease risk factor."

The study was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial conducted over six months using the multivitamin supplement Cooper Complete, a formulation developed by Kenneth H. Cooper, M.D., M.P.H., and leading researchers. Sixty-seven percent of the study population was male and due to fluctuating levels of CRP during the menstrual cycle, the remaining 33 percent was composed of postmenopausal women. The individuals ranged in age from 30 to 70.

ABOUT THE STUDY
"Reduction of C-Reactive Protein Levels Through Use of a Multivitamin" by Timothy S. Church, MD, MPH, PhD, Conrad P. Earnest, PhD, Kherrin A. Wood, MS and James B. Kampert, PhD. It appears in The American Journal of Medicine, Volume 115, Number 9, published by Elsevier. PDF of Journal Article

ABOUT THE COOPER INSTITUTE
The Cooper Institute is the nonprofit division of The Cooper Aerobics Center and focuses on preventive medicine research and health education, promotion and certification. Areas of research include epidemiology, exercise physiology, behavior change, cancer prevention, children's health, obesity, nutrition, aging, diabetes, hypertension, weight management, health communication and other health issues. Certification and training courses are delivered to more than 6,500 health and fitness professionals each year. In addition to the Dallas location, The Cooper Institute has a research center in Denver, Colo., and an outreach center in the Oak Cliff area of South Dallas. For more information about The Cooper Institute, visit www.cooperinst.org.

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