Association between C reactive protein and depression in a population of healthy adults: The Cooper Center Longitudinal Study

Khan, Amber; Leonard, David; Defina, Laura; Barlow, Carolyn E; Willis, Benjamin; Brown, E Sherwood

doi:10.1136/jim-2019-001254

Cited by 18Tryptophan and brain disordersAdipokines, Inflammation, and Metabolic DiseasesStress Responses and Cortisol

Association between C reactive protein and depression in a population of healthy adults: The Cooper Center Longitudinal Study

Khan, Amber, Leonard, David, Defina, Laura, Barlow, Carolyn E, Willis, Benjamin, Brown, E Sherwood·2020·Journal of Investigative Medicine

DOI 10.1136/jim-2019-001254

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Abstract

The relationship between depression and inflammation is currently a topic of much interest. Previous studies have produced mixed results regarding the association between depression and high-sensitivity C reactive protein (hs-CRP). The aim of this report was to determine the association between hs-CRP and depression in a large sample of healthy adults. This is a cross-sectional study of 26,638 healthy adults seen for preventive medical examinations between December 2000 and August 2018 at the Cooper Clinic in Dallas, Texas. Multivariable logistic regression was used to evaluate the association between hs-CRP levels and depressive symptoms as measured by the 10-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Covariates included race, age, education, smoking history, alcohol use, menopausal status, body mass index (BMI), and medication use. The Hs-CRP level demonstrated a weakly positive association with depressive symptoms (OR 1.06 per mg/L, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.09 for women; OR 1.05 per mg/L, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.09 for men) that became insignificant when controlling for BMI in women (OR 1.02 per mg/L, 95% CI 0.98 to 1.05) and men (OR 1.02 per mg/L, 95% CI 0.98 to 1.05). Adjusting for antidepressant and statin use did not affect the association between hs-CRP and depressive symptoms in women (OR 0.99 per mg/L, 95% CI 0.96 to 1.03) or men (OR 1.01 per mg/L, 95% CI 0.97 to 1.05). Levels of hs-CRP were not associated with depression independent of BMI in a predominantly white, male population of higher socioeconomic status. This finding suggests that associations between hs-CRP and depression may be explained by obesity, which warrants further investigation into shared pathways between obesity and depression.

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In 26,638 healthy adults, the association between hs-CRP levels and depression could be more likely explained by obesity status.
“A recent large cross-sectional study assessing serum hs-CRP levels and depression symptoms using CESD, in 26,638 healthy adults, recruited at the Cooper Clinic in Dallas, Texas, reported an association between hs-CRP levels and depression which could be more likely explained by obesity status [62].”
From C-Reactive protein as a biomarker for major depressive disorder? (2022) · cites this paper as [62]

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Authors: Khan, A., Leonard, D., Defina, L., Barlow, C. E., Willis, B., & Brown, E. S.
Affiliations: The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (US)
Cooper Institute (US)
Corresponding author: Brown, E Sherwood
ORCID: Khan, Amber
Leonard, David
Defina, Laura
Barlow, Carolyn E
Brown, E Sherwood
Venue: Journal of Investigative Medicine
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Published: 2020-06
Volume: 68
Issue: 5
Pages: 1019-1023
ISSN: 1081-5589 (ISSN-L)
1708-8267
DOI: 10.1136/jim-2019-001254
OpenAlex: W3012643361
Cited by: 18
References: 37
Citations by year: 2026: 3 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 1
FWCI: 0.75
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Licence: journals.sagepub.com/page/policies/text-and-data-mining-license (tdm)
Locations: Journal of Investigative Medicine (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics: Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Biological Psychiatry › Tryptophan and brain disorders
Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Adipokines, Inflammation, and Metabolic Diseases
Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
Keywords: C-reactive protein, depression, depressive symptoms, inflammation, obesity, body mass index, healthy adults, sex differences, antidepressant use, statin use, Cooper Center Longitudinal Study
MeSH terms: Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Behavior, C-Reactive Protein, Depression, Female, Health, Humans, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Middle Aged, Young Adult

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Association between C reactive protein and depression in a population of healthy adults: The Cooper Center Longitudinal Study

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