Authors: Eric J Brunner, Mika Kivimäki, Daniel R Witte, Debbie A Lawlor, George Davey Smith, Jackie A Cooper, Michelle Miller, Gordon D. O Lowe, Ann Rumley, Juan P Casas, Tina Shah, Steve E Humphries, Aroon D Hingorani, Michael G Marmot, Nicholas J Timpson, Meena Kumari
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.0050155
Abstract Summary
Elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) levels are linked to type 2 diabetes risk, but is this relationship causal? Using genetic variants as tools, researchers found that while blood CRP levels correlated with diabetes markers, genetic variants affecting CRP showed no such association. This suggests the CRP-diabetes link is likely noncausal—inflammation may influence diabetes through other pathways, not CRP itself.
Why Brain? 🧠
Genetic analysis shows elevated CRP doesn’t directly cause diabetes. Instead, inflammation likely acts through upstream factors, not CRP itself, challenging CRP as a causal diabetes marker.
License: CC BY.
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