Authors:
Le-Ha C, Beilin LJ, Burrows S, Oddy WH, Hands B, Mori TA.
Authors notes:
Journal of Lipid Research. 2014;55(4):758-64.
Keywords:
adolescent smoking, cardiovascular risk factors, oral contraceptives, sex differences
Abstract:
C-reactive protein (CRP), smoking, and oral contraceptive (OC) use are associated with CVD risk in adults.
This study examines the effect of smoking on high-sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP) levels, and the interactive effects of sex and OC use on this relationship in an adolescent cohort.
A total of 1,050 adolescents (mean age 17 ± 0.25 years) from the Western Australian Pregnancy Cohort (Raine) Study had anthropometric, lifestyle, and metabolic measures recorded.
The association between smoking status and log-transformed hs-CRP was analyzed using multivariable Tobit linear regression models, with adjustment for adiposity, lifestyle, and early-life confounders.
A three level variable (girls not using OCs, girls using OCs, and boys) was employed to assess the interactive effects of sex, OC use, and smoking.
Smoking associated with higher hs-CRP levels in girls not using OCs, but not in girls using OCs or in boys.
OC use in nonsmoking girls was the strongest factor associated with higher hs-CRP levels.
This study has demonstrated a more robust effect of smoking on hs-CRP levels in girls not using OCs compared with boys.
The findings may explain why CVD risk conferred by smoking is higher in women than in men.