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Objective: To investigate the relationships of sub-clinical inflammation and regional and generalized obesity and lipids in adolescent and young adult Asian Indians in north India. Methods: We determined serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker for sub-clinical inflammation, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-hip ratio (W-HR), four skinfolds (biceps, triceps, subscapular and suprailiac), percentage of body fat (% BF) and lipid profile in 377 healthy adolescents and young adults (331 males and 46 females, age range: 14–25 years). Results: Overweight subjects (BMI>85th percentile), and subjects with high values (>85th percentile) of WC and triceps skinfold thickness had significantly higher median CRP levels (P=0.04, P=0.001 and P=0.007, respectively) as compared with subjects with lower values of the variables. Elevated levels of CRP (>2.1 mg/l) were observed in 21.8% of the overweight subjects and 24.5% of the subjects with high (>85th percentile) % BF. After adjusting for age and gender, the odds ratios (95% CI) for elevated levels of CRP were 2.3 (1.1–4.7, P=0.02) for overweight subjects, 2.6 (1.2–5.4, P=0.01) for subjects with high % BF, and 3.7 (1.7–7.9, P=0.001) for subjects with high triceps skinfold thickness. Levels of CRP correlated significantly with % BF (r=0.13, P=0.009), W-HR (r=0.11, P=0.02), biceps skinfolds (r=0.13, P=0.01) and triceps skinfolds (r=0.13, P=0.01) for males only. Conclusions: The observations of substantial prevalence of elevated CRP levels in adolescents and young adults having increased generalized and abdominal adiposity may be important for the development of metabolic syndrome and atherosclerosis in Asian Indian adults. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: In the last few decades, there has been exponential growth in the field of herbal remedies. Pharmacopoeial preparations like avleha or paka (semi-solid), swarasa (expressed juice), kalka (mass), him (cold infusion) and phanta (hot infusion), kwatha (decoction) and churna (powder) form the backbone of Ayurvedic formulations. Newer guidelines for standardization, manufacture, and quality control, and scientifically rigorous research will be necessary for traditional treatments. This traditional knowledge can serve as powerful search engine that will greatly facilitate drug discovery., Purpose: The aim of the present study is to standardize Saubhagya Shunthi Paka in churna (powder) form. The powder form makes this traditional drug more stable for long-term storage and hence, easier to preserve., Materials and Methods: Saubhagya Shunthi Paka is an ayurvedic formulation containing Shunthi (Zingiber officinalis) as one of its chief ingredients. The basic preparation of this drug is a semisolid. We checked the microbial load and nutrient values (using International Standard IS and Association of Official Analytical chemists AOAC methods), Results: The powdered form of Saubhagya Shunthi Churna yielded a weight loss of approximately 17.64% of the total weight of ingredients. The total energy of Churna (calculated based on nutrient content) was found higher over Paka., Conclusion: Saubhagya Shunthi Churna may be a good therapeutic and dietary medicine for Indian women, which may be easily prepared at home.

Background & Objectives: Elevated levels of c-reactive protein (CRP) are known to be associated with insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome in adults. A substantial prevalence of hyperinsulinaemia and elevated CRP levels have been shown in Indian young adults. We therefore studied the association of serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) with fasting insulin and insulin resistance in urban adolescent and young adult males in north India., Methods: In this cross-sectional study 324 healthy males, 14-25 yr of age were selected randomly and their clinical and anthropometric profile [body mass index (BMI), waist and hip circumferences, waist-to-hip circumference ratio (W-HR), and skinfold thickness at four sites], percentage of body fat (%BF) and biochemical (fasting blood glucose, lipoprotein profile, fasting insulin and hs-CRP) parameters were recorded. Insulin resistance was assessed by the homeostasis model of assessment (HOMA-IR)., Results: Fasting insulin and hs-CRP levels correlated significantly with BMI, waist circumference, and triceps and subscapular skinfold thickness. Fasting insulin also correlated with %BF, and hs- CRP correlated with W-HR. No correlation was observed between hs-CRP and fasting insulin levels or insulin resistance. In multiple logistic regression analysis different independent risk factors for hyperinsulinaemia and elevated hs-CRP levels were observed; hypercholesterolaemia, overweight and high subscapular skinfold thickness for the former, and high triceps skinfold thickness for the latter., Interpretation & Conclusion: Lack of correlation between hs-CRP and surrogate markers of insulin resistance and different risk factors for each, in young Indian males are unique observations of our study. Further studies on a larger sample of both genders need to be done to confirm these findings.