C‐reactive protein, early life stress, and wellbeing in healthy adults

Carpenter LL, Gawuga CE, Tyrka AR, Price LH. C‐reactive protein, early life stress, and wellbeing in healthy adults. Objective:  To determine whether C‐reactive protein (CRP) can serve as a marker for alterations in immune function prior to the manifestation of significant psychiatric and medical disorders. Method:  Ninety‐two healthy adults were recruited from the community and determined to be free of psychiatric or medical disorders. The concentration of plasma CRP from a single resting sample was examined in relation to current mental and physical health as well as to self‐reported history of early life adversity. Results:  C‐reactive protein showed a significant positive correlation with body mass index (BMI; r  = 0.477, P  <   0.001). Non‐specific pain, fatigue, and lower overall quality of physical health were all associated with higher CRP concentrations (all P  < 0.05 or P  < 0.01), after controlling for effect of BMI and other relevant covariates. Subthreshold depression symptoms and other indices of mental/emotional wellbeing were not associated with CRP, nor was CRP significantly linked to any measures of early life adversity. Conclusion:  Lower‐quality physical health and wellbeing, but not the presence of mood/anxiety symptoms or early life stress (ELS), were significantly related to plasma CRP. Elevated CRP does not appear to be a fundamental consequence of ELS among healthy adults.