Relationship between serum alkaline phosphatase level, C-reactive protein and leukocyte counts in adults aged 60 years or older

Abstract

Serumalkaline phosphatase(ALP), a useful marker of hepatobiliary or bone disorders, has been known to be associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD), which is increasingly being viewed as an inflammatory disease.C-reactive proteinlevelandleukocyte counthave also been highlighted as independent risk markers of CVD. Thus, the mechanism underlying the link between elevated ALP and CVD could be subclinical low-grade inflammation. This study aimed to examine associations ofserumALPlevelwith inflammatory markers. This cross-sectional study included 2403 participants (1324 men and 1079 women)aged≥60yearswho participated in a health examination program.SerumALP quartiles were categorized as follows: Q1: ≤51, Q2: 52-61, Q3: 62-74 and Q4: ≥75 U/L. The odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for high CRP andleukocyte count(≥75th percentiles) were calculated after adjusting for confounding variables acrossserumALP quartiles using multiple logistic regression analysis. Median CRPleveland meanleukocyte countincreased in accordance withserumALP quartiles. Compared to the lowest quartile, the ORs (95% CI) of the highest quartile for high CRP andleukocyte countwere 2.03 (1.50-2.76) and 1.54 (1.13-2.10) after adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, smoking status, alcohol intake, fasting plasma glucose, log-transformed triglyceride and HDL-cholesterollevels.SerumALPlevelwas positively and independently associated with inflammatory markers inadultsaged60yearsorolder.