C-reactive protein (CRP) is an inflammatory biomarker. Based on the results of several prospective epidemiologic studies, C-reactive protein has emerged as one of the most powerful predictors of cardiovascular disease. This marker provides valuable information to clinicians in various clinical settings, ranging from overt cardiovascular disease, stable angina, presenting acute coronary syndromes and peripheral vascular disease, to the metabolic syndrome. Furthermore, elevated C-reactive protein has been demonstrated to actively contribute to all stages of atherogenesis, participating in endothelial dysfunction, atherosclerotic-plaque formation, plaque maturation, plaque destabilization and eventual rupture. Thus, it might also serve as a therapeutic target. It is quite likely that the future will see much wider use of C-reactive protein in improving the ability of doctors to identify and manage cardiovascular disease.
   Levels of C-reactive protein can be decreased by increasing consumption of fruits and vegetables.

C Reactive Protein and Mediterranean Diet
Sticking to a Mediterranean diet, high in fruits and vegetables and low in saturated fats, lowers levels of inflammation in the elderly, as reflected by lower levels of C-reactive protein. This effect should, in turn, lead to a lower risk of cardiovascular disease that has been associated with this type of diet.

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C Reactive Protein and Pregnancy
Women who have very high levels of the inflammatory marker C-reactive protein early in pregnancy run the risk of delivering before term.

C reactive protein test blood test
A simple blood test for c reactive protein can be done at the same time as a cholesterol screening. The high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) test, helps determine heart disease risk and is widely available. It is important to remember that the usefulness of knowing hs-CRP levels in a particular individual is still unknown. For the time being, The American Heart Association recommends C-reactive protein as part of routine screening for those who are at intermediate risk for heart disease. HS-CRP results in that risk group can help the physician determine additional testing and treatment. The American Heart Association adds that patients at low risk probably do not need their C-reactive protein tested and those at high risk should be treated aggressively regardless of their CRP test results.

How to Lower Elevated C Reactive Protein
Eating more fresh fruits and vegetables is a safe and reliable way to decrease C reactive protein levels. Foods high in fiber also lower C reactive protein. Higher intake of n–3 polyunsaturated fatty acids from marine or fish is inversely associated with serum C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations. Therefore, eating more fish or perhaps taking fish oil capsules can reduce C reactive protein levels.

Fiber and C Reactive Protein
In a study of 524 healthy adults, investigators found that those with the highest fiber intake had lower blood levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) than those who ate the least fiber. The findings support the general recommendation that adults get 20 to 35 grams of fiber per day, in the form of fruits, vegetables, beans and whole grains. It's not clear why fiber may reduce inflammation, but it may lower cholesterol and blood sugar, both of which can contribute to inflammation. Both of the main forms of fiber, soluble and insoluble, were related to lower CRP levels. Soluble fiber is found in foods like oatmeal, beans, berries and apples, while whole grains and many vegetables are good sources of insoluble fiber. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, April 2006.

C Reactive Protein and Hypertension
For young adults in their 30s, the blood test for C-reactive protein (CRP), which is linked to inflammation, is unlikely to predict the future risk of high blood pressure. There is increasing evidence that inflammation is related to high blood pressure, and the presence of CRP often indicates low-level ongoing inflammation. In a previous study of women in their 50s, raised CRP levels, as a marker of inflammation, predicted the development of high blood pressure, independent of other risk factors such as obesity. But it appears that in a younger group of individuals, mainly black and white people in their 30s, would C-reactive protein does not independently predict hypertension. Therefore, CRP blood test is not necessary to do in one's 30s solely to determine future blood pressure risk.

Rhematoid arthritis
Increased blood levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker for inflammation, are seen long before symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis appear.

Psyllium supplement does not affect C reactive protein levels
Dr. Dana E. King and colleagues at the Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston assigned 162 overweight or obese adults without heart disease to take psyllium supplements (7 or 14 grams daily) or no supplements. Their objective was to see whether daily fiber supplementation would lower blood levels of C-reactive protein or CRP and other markers of inflammation. After 3 months, the results showed changes in CRP levels or the other markers of inflammation were no different between the group that got psyllium fiber supplements and the no-supplement comparison group. Annals of Family Medicine, March/April 2008.
   Comments: Psyllium may provide benefits that are not necessarily related to changes in c reactive protein levels.

resolvins

C Reactive Protein Research Update
A 4-wk intervention with high intake of carotenoid-rich vegetables and fruit reduces high C-reactive protein in healthy, nonsmoking men.
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 82, No. 5, 1052-1058, November 2005
We investigated the effects of low, medium, and high intakes of vegetables and fruit on markers of immune functions, including nonspecific markers of inflammation. In a randomized controlled trial, nonsmoking men consumed a diet that included ?2 servings/d of vegetables and fruit for 4 wk. The subjects were then randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups to consume 2 servings/d, 5 servings/d, or 8 servings/d of carotenoid-rich vegetables and fruit for another 4-wk period. Plasma concentrations of vitamins C and E and carotenoids were measured. The assessment of immunologic and inflammatory markers included the number and activity of natural killer cells, secretion of cytokines, lymphocyte proliferation, and plasma C-reactive protein concentrations.  The high intake (8 servings/d) of vegetables and fruit significantly increased total carotenoid concentrations in plasma compared with the low intake (2 servings/d; week 4 compared with week 8), whereas concentrations of vitamins C and E did not differ between week 4 and week 8. Immunologic markers were not significantly modulated. In contrast, C-reactive protein was significantly reduced at week 8 in the subjects who consumed 8 servings/d of vegetables and fruit compared with those who consumed 2 servings/d. Conclusions: In healthy, well-nourished, nonsmoking men, 4 wk of low or high intakes of carotenoid-rich vegetables and fruit did not affect markers of immune function. However, a high intake of vegetables and fruit may reduce inflammatory processes, as indicated by the reduction of plasma C-reactive protein.

Fruit and vegetable intakes, C-reactive protein, and the metabolic syndrome1,2,3
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 84, No. 6, 1489-1497, December 2006. Ahmad Esmaillzadeh, Masoud Kimiagar, Yadollah Mehrabi, Leila Azadbakht, Frank B Hu and Walter C Willett. 1 From the Department of Human Nutrition, School of Nutrition and Food Science (AE, MK, and LA), and the School of Public Health (YM), Shaheed Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, and the Departments of Nutrition (AE, LA, FBH, and WCW) and Epidemiology (FBH and WCW), Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA
We evaluated the relation between fruit and vegetable intakes and C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations and the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome. Fruit and vegetable intakes were assessed with the use of a validated semiquantitative food-frequency questionnaire in a cross-sectional study of 486 Tehrani female teachers aged 40–60 y. The reported mean daily fruit and vegetable intakes were 228 ± 79 and 186 ± 88 g/d, respectively. Both fruit and vegetable intakes were inversely associated with plasma CRP concentrations. Conclusions: Higher intakes of fruit and vegetables are associated with a lower risk of the metabolic syndrome; the lower risk may be the result of lower CRP concentrations. These findings support current dietary recommendations to increase daily intakes of fruit and vegetables as a primary preventive measure against cardiovascular disease.

C Reactive Protein questions
Q. Do CoQ10 and Lipoic acid reduce c reactive protein levels?
     A. I am not sure, I have not seen such studies yet.