Subclinical inflammation and soleus muscle intramyocellular lipids in healthy Asian Indian males

Objectives The relationship between C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of subclinical inflammation, and intramyocellular lipid (IMCL) content, a novel correlate of insulin resistance, has not previously been investigated. Methods and design We estimated IMCL content in soleus muscle in 30 healthy Asian Indian males using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (H-1 MRS), and correlated it with body mass index (BMI), measures of abdominal obesity, percentage of body fat (%BF), serum lipoproteins, fasting and post-oral glucose load serum insulin levels and other surrogate markers of insulin resistance. Results Soleus muscle IMCL content was significantly correlated with age (rho = 0.64, P < 0.001), BMI (rho = 0.41, P < 0.05), %BF (rho = 0.53, P <= 0.01), waist circumference (rho = 0.45, P < 0.05) and waist-to-hip circumference ratio (rho = 0.58, P < 0.01) but did not correlate significantly with insulin resistance measured by the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR) or CRP levels. CRP levels did not correlate with the HOMA-IR value. Conclusions Soleus muscle IMCL content correlated significantly with measures of generalized and abdominal obesity but not with insulin sensitivity or CRP levels in healthy Asian Indian males. Studies are needed in other ethnic groups to corroborate these data.