Associations of Sex Steroid Hormones with C-Reactive Protein Levels in American Children and Adolescents: Evidence from NHANES 2015-2016

Abstract

Abstract Background: The relationship between sex steroid hormones and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein(hs-CRP) levels in American children and adolescents is understudied. This research will examine this association. Methods: The study conducted a data analysis from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2015-2016, adjusting multiple linear regression models with R 4.2.2 and EmpowerStats. A total of 1,768 children and adolescents were surveyed.Data collection involved measurements of serum levels of testosterone, estradiol, sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) and hs-CRP. Results:With the increase in testosterone, a brief rise (β=0.082, P=0.047) followed by an overall decline (β=-0.028, P=0.023) in hs-CRP was observed in the Male Prepubertal population, while a continuous decline (β=-0.002, P<0.05) was seen in the Male Pubertal group. A positive correlation (β=0.047, P<0.05) was found between testosterone and hs-CRP in the Female Prepubertal population, whereas no significant association (β=0.002, P>0.05) was detected in the Female Pubertal group. A significant inverse correlation was observed between estradiol and hs-CRP solely in the Female Pubertal group (β=-0.002, P<0.05), while no association was found in other populations. An inverse relationship between SHBG and hs-CRP was consistently noted across all groups: Male Prepubertal, Male Pubertal, Female Prepubertal, and Female Pubertal. Conclusions:This study highlighted sex steroid hormones as a vital indicator affecting high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels in children and adolescents.