DEXA measures of body fat percentage and acute phase proteins among breast cancer survivors

Objective. To examine the association between body fat percentage as measured by DEXA and 2 systemic inflammatory markers, C-reactive protein (CRP) and Serum amyloid A protein (SAA) in breast cancer survivors and its modulation by lifestyle factors.;Design. Cross-sectional measures from a longitudinal study of breast cancer survivors. Subjects: 138 non-Hispanic White and Hispanic breast cancer survivors participating in the Washington and New Mexico components of the Health, Eating, Activity, and Lifestyle (HEAL) Study.;Measures. DEXA measures of body fat percentage and circulating levels of 2 acute phase proteins (CRP, SAA) approximately 30 months after breast cancer diagnosis.;Results. Circulating levels of CRP and SAA were associated with increased adiposity as measured by DEXA. Breast cancer patients with body fat ≥35% had significantly higher CRP and SAA levels compared to non-obese patients. The data suggest that geometric mean levels of CRP are lower among obese women taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) compared to obese women not taking them and higher among women eating ≥ 2000 kcal/day, although neither of these associations was statistically significant. Physical activity and other lifestyle factors were not significant modifiers of the associations of CRP and SAA with percentage body fat.;Conclusion. Women with body fat ≥35% had higher mean levels of systemic inflammatory markers than women with lower body fat. Modest changes in lifestyle (e.g. taking NSAIDs or decreasing caloric intake) may help to reduce circulating inflammatory markers, which may beneficially impact survival.