An inverted U-shaped association between high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and the albumin ratio and hepatic steatosis and liver fibrosis: a population-based study
BackgroundThe high-sensitivity C-reactive protein to albumin (CAR) ratio is a comprehensive measure of inflammation in vivo. Hepatic steatosis and fibrosis are significantly correlated with inflammation. The present study aimed to explore the possible associations between CAR and hepatic steatosis a...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-04-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Nutrition |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2025.1534200/full |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850187551245074432 |
|---|---|
| author | Xiaorong Ma Baoyu Li Yuwei Liu Xiaoyan Guo |
| author_facet | Xiaorong Ma Baoyu Li Yuwei Liu Xiaoyan Guo |
| author_sort | Xiaorong Ma |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundThe high-sensitivity C-reactive protein to albumin (CAR) ratio is a comprehensive measure of inflammation in vivo. Hepatic steatosis and fibrosis are significantly correlated with inflammation. The present study aimed to explore the possible associations between CAR and hepatic steatosis and fibrosis in the American population.MethodsThe study population involved the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) participants from 2017 to 2020. The natural logarithm of CAR, calculated as Ln(CAR) with base “e,” was used for further analyses. The relationships between Ln(CAR) and the controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) and between Ln(CAR) and liver stiffness measurement (LSM) were investigated through multivariate linear regression analysis. Interaction and subgroup analysis identified factors affecting these variables. Nonlinear relationships were elucidated by smoothing curves and threshold effect analysis. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to evaluate the predictive performance of the CAR for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The results were adjusted for U.S. population estimates.ResultsThe study included a total of 7,404 individuals. Ln(CAR) was positively correlated with CAP in the fully adjusted model, with an effect value of β = 1.827 (95% CI, 0.611, 3.042). A more pronounced positive association was observed among participants with a BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2 in the subgroup analysis. An inverted U-shaped association was shown between Ln(CAR) and CAP through smooth curve fitting and a two-segment linear regression model, with an inflection point of (−9.594). ROC curve analysis showed that CAR had a moderate predictive value for NAFLD (AUC = 0.6895), with a sensitivity of 0.7276 and a specificity of 0.6092. No significant association was detected between Ln(CAR) and the LSM.ConclusionWe demonstrate an inverted U-shaped relationship between Ln(CAR) and CAP risk within the U.S. demographic. Our results suggest that CAR may serve as a valuable diagnostic tool for NAFLD. Further prospective research is necessary to validate this conclusion. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-762e2565d0ba4ea08d1d007e1969a7bc |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2296-861X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Nutrition |
| spelling | doaj-art-762e2565d0ba4ea08d1d007e1969a7bc2025-08-20T02:16:05ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Nutrition2296-861X2025-04-011210.3389/fnut.2025.15342001534200An inverted U-shaped association between high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and the albumin ratio and hepatic steatosis and liver fibrosis: a population-based studyXiaorong MaBaoyu LiYuwei LiuXiaoyan GuoBackgroundThe high-sensitivity C-reactive protein to albumin (CAR) ratio is a comprehensive measure of inflammation in vivo. Hepatic steatosis and fibrosis are significantly correlated with inflammation. The present study aimed to explore the possible associations between CAR and hepatic steatosis and fibrosis in the American population.MethodsThe study population involved the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) participants from 2017 to 2020. The natural logarithm of CAR, calculated as Ln(CAR) with base “e,” was used for further analyses. The relationships between Ln(CAR) and the controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) and between Ln(CAR) and liver stiffness measurement (LSM) were investigated through multivariate linear regression analysis. Interaction and subgroup analysis identified factors affecting these variables. Nonlinear relationships were elucidated by smoothing curves and threshold effect analysis. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to evaluate the predictive performance of the CAR for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The results were adjusted for U.S. population estimates.ResultsThe study included a total of 7,404 individuals. Ln(CAR) was positively correlated with CAP in the fully adjusted model, with an effect value of β = 1.827 (95% CI, 0.611, 3.042). A more pronounced positive association was observed among participants with a BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2 in the subgroup analysis. An inverted U-shaped association was shown between Ln(CAR) and CAP through smooth curve fitting and a two-segment linear regression model, with an inflection point of (−9.594). ROC curve analysis showed that CAR had a moderate predictive value for NAFLD (AUC = 0.6895), with a sensitivity of 0.7276 and a specificity of 0.6092. No significant association was detected between Ln(CAR) and the LSM.ConclusionWe demonstrate an inverted U-shaped relationship between Ln(CAR) and CAP risk within the U.S. demographic. Our results suggest that CAR may serve as a valuable diagnostic tool for NAFLD. Further prospective research is necessary to validate this conclusion.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2025.1534200/fullthe ratio of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein to albuminNAFLDNHANEShepatic steatosisliver fibrosis |
| spellingShingle | Xiaorong Ma Baoyu Li Yuwei Liu Xiaoyan Guo An inverted U-shaped association between high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and the albumin ratio and hepatic steatosis and liver fibrosis: a population-based study Frontiers in Nutrition the ratio of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein to albumin NAFLD NHANES hepatic steatosis liver fibrosis |
| title | An inverted U-shaped association between high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and the albumin ratio and hepatic steatosis and liver fibrosis: a population-based study |
| title_full | An inverted U-shaped association between high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and the albumin ratio and hepatic steatosis and liver fibrosis: a population-based study |
| title_fullStr | An inverted U-shaped association between high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and the albumin ratio and hepatic steatosis and liver fibrosis: a population-based study |
| title_full_unstemmed | An inverted U-shaped association between high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and the albumin ratio and hepatic steatosis and liver fibrosis: a population-based study |
| title_short | An inverted U-shaped association between high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and the albumin ratio and hepatic steatosis and liver fibrosis: a population-based study |
| title_sort | inverted u shaped association between high sensitivity c reactive protein and the albumin ratio and hepatic steatosis and liver fibrosis a population based study |
| topic | the ratio of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein to albumin NAFLD NHANES hepatic steatosis liver fibrosis |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2025.1534200/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT xiaorongma aninvertedushapedassociationbetweenhighsensitivitycreactiveproteinandthealbuminratioandhepaticsteatosisandliverfibrosisapopulationbasedstudy AT baoyuli aninvertedushapedassociationbetweenhighsensitivitycreactiveproteinandthealbuminratioandhepaticsteatosisandliverfibrosisapopulationbasedstudy AT yuweiliu aninvertedushapedassociationbetweenhighsensitivitycreactiveproteinandthealbuminratioandhepaticsteatosisandliverfibrosisapopulationbasedstudy AT xiaoyanguo aninvertedushapedassociationbetweenhighsensitivitycreactiveproteinandthealbuminratioandhepaticsteatosisandliverfibrosisapopulationbasedstudy AT xiaorongma invertedushapedassociationbetweenhighsensitivitycreactiveproteinandthealbuminratioandhepaticsteatosisandliverfibrosisapopulationbasedstudy AT baoyuli invertedushapedassociationbetweenhighsensitivitycreactiveproteinandthealbuminratioandhepaticsteatosisandliverfibrosisapopulationbasedstudy AT yuweiliu invertedushapedassociationbetweenhighsensitivitycreactiveproteinandthealbuminratioandhepaticsteatosisandliverfibrosisapopulationbasedstudy AT xiaoyanguo invertedushapedassociationbetweenhighsensitivitycreactiveproteinandthealbuminratioandhepaticsteatosisandliverfibrosisapopulationbasedstudy |