"High fiber intake from a diet naturally rich in fiber or from a supplement can reduce levels of C-reactive protein (CRP); however, further research is needed to elucidate the effects on obese individuals and whether modification of dietary fiber may be helpful in modulating inflammation."

https://www.naturalproductsinsider.co...134548780.html

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That's helpful info.

But we must not lose sight of the fact that CRP is an effect, not a cause. We should not be working to indiscriminately lower our CRP levels. Rather, we should deal with the cause of increased CRP.

CRP derived it's name because it binds with the C polysaccharide of Streptococcus pneumoniae, eliciting the complement cascade to destroy the organism. CRP is now known to work in similar fashion against other microbes and pathogens.

It is a defense mechanism!

To "routinely" try to lower its levels may be tantamount to lowering our immune response.

Let's deal with causes, not effects. :wink:

Gerry

Gerry,

If I understood correctly, you're saying that CRP is an immune response? If my interpretation is correct, what would cause our bodies to produce such a response? In other words, if this reaction is caused by harmful microbes, would it be fair to assume that taking certain probiotics (in food or supplemental form) would lower CRP levels? Can you think of another method for properly lowering CRP by way of addressing the underlying cause?

The only research that I'm aware of regarding CRP lowering (besides the use of pharmaceuticals) is in reference to the effects of certain natural substances, like antioxidants, diet, fish oil, magnesium, fiber, etc.

HH

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Yes, CRP is part of our defense mechanisms. For one, it gets the immune system (complement cascade) acting to destroy organisms like Streptococcus pneumoniae by which it was discovered.

Now, CRP is being related to a number of conditions, including cardiovascular disease and cancer. I think this lends well to the idea that microbes can be behind these diseases. If I remember right, Chlamydia is one microbe associated with cardiovascular disease, probably the initiating factor for the various deposits made upon blood vessel walls (cholesterol, homocysteine, etc.). Then there's the controversial Progenitor cryptocides supposedly associated with cancers, not to mention the several microbe-induced cancers in animals. There's also Borrelia associated with rheumatism, and most likely other examples of possible microbe causes of "non-infectious" disease, a recent one being Helicobacter pylori of ulcers.

So CRP should only be viewed as a symptom, not the disease. (Then again, how many drugs do we now have to deal with the "disease" called pain and/or fever? )

Of course, these immune proteins (CRP, mannose binding protein, serum amyloid protein, lactoferrin, interferons, and a host of others) do not deal only with microbes but also damaged cells and tissues. In cardiovascular disease, these damaged tissues can be brought about by free radicals, homocysteine, oxidized LDL, etc., and the immune proteins are out to repair the damage, but this cannot happen with all the drugs (such as NSAIDs -- non-steroidal anti-inflammator drugs like aspirin and all its relatives) people are being made to take at the smallest possible reason.

As for nutrients that apparently lower CRP levels, note how they also play significant roles in the immune response and/or toxin elimination. By enhancing our immune response, the inflammatory process is allowed to continue to the resolution stage, thus ending the inflammation. In contrast, anti-inflammatory drugs (steroidal and non-steroidal) inhibit the immune response and thus lead to subclinical or chronic disease.

Statins are also being pushed to lower CRP, and why not? it's more money for the drug companies and it acts on the liver, which produces CRP as well as CoQ10. By inhibiting our immune mechanisms, approaches like this just lead to more chronic, if not deadly, disease.

Boost our immune system, allow our inflammation to go its full course, and the cause is dealt with. CRP levels will just naturally get lower when there's no more need of it. The body easily metabolizes it and uses the components for other purposes.

BTW, increases in blood glucose levels also increase CRP. And why not? Glucose is a very strong reducing sugar (chemically speaking), leaving a lot of free radicals (read: damage) in its wake. It also damages proteins (red blood cells, plasma proteins including immunoglobulins), deactivating them by binding with them (glycosylation). Tie this damage up with the fact that excess glucose is the source of our blood cholesterol (LDL), then it's easy to see why we should really keep our blood glucose levels in check.

Gerry