A gene polymorphism in acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase beta may be associated with the C-reactive protein level in a prediabetic and diabetic population.

A recent study reported a significant association between the T-allele in intron 18 of the acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase beta (ACACB) gene (C>T polymorphism) and nephropathy caused by diabetes mellitus (DM). Considering the involvement of chronic inflammation in the pathophysiology of DM, the present study investigated an association between the ACACB gene polymorphism and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) in a prediabetic and diabetic population. Anthropometric and biochemical variables including hsCRP were measured among 91 Japanese subjects (mean age: 69 years) with a hemoglobin A1c level of ≥5.6% and no history of cardiovascular disease. All subjects were genotyped by an allele-specific DNA assay. The subjects with the T-allele (n=32) showed significantly higher hsCRP levels than those without the T-allele (median level: 0.17 vs. 0.14 mg/dL, P≤0.05). Similarly, the hsCRP levels continued to differ significantly, independently of the other variables, between the subjects with and without the T-allele after adjusting for multiple variables. The present data suggest that the ACACB gene C>T polymorphism may therefore be associated with chronic inflammation in this population.