Association Between Interleukin 6 and C-Reactive Protein Serum Levels and Body Composition Compartments and Components in Breast Cancer Survivors

Abstract

Obesity is highly prevalent in breast cancer (BC) survivors. Adipose tissue promotes inflammation, affecting recurrence, morbidity, and quality of life. This study aimed to determine the relationship of body composition parameters with the levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) in female BC survivors. Additionally, we evaluated the association of log-transformed serum concentrations of CRP and IL-6 with the appendicular skeletal lean mass index (ASMI). The results showed that CRP was positively associated with body fat percentage (BFP; β adjusted = .08, 95% CI: .02–.14) in all participants, and with fat mass index (FMI; β = .24, 95% CI: .08–.40) only in premenopausal women. IL-6 was positively associated with FMI (β adjusted = .16, 95% CI: .03–.29), while ASMI decreased as CRP levels increased (β adjusted = −.30, 95% CI: −.53 to −.06). Interventions to improve body composition in BC survivors should also consider the role of inflammatory markers in changes in body composition to avoid sarcopenic obesity (SO) and the risk of BC recurrence.