🔒Private• Calculated on device

📊Evidence-based• AHA/CDC guidelines

🔥Inflammation marker• Predicts CVD beyond cholesterol

hsCRP Explained | The Inflammation Alarm

High-sensitivity C-reactive protein — your body's smoke detector for systemic inflammation, cardiovascular risk, and metabolic dysfunction.

January 2026•12 min read

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Who is this for?

✓People assessing cardiovascular risk beyond standard lipids
✓Those with metabolic syndrome or insulin resistance
✓Anyone tracking inflammation from diet and lifestyle changes
✓People with autoimmune conditions monitoring disease activity
✓Athletes monitoring recovery and overtraining
✓Anyone with a family history of heart disease

What is hsCRP?

C-reactive protein (CRP) is produced by your liver in response to inflammation anywhere in your body. High-sensitivity CRP (hsCRP) is the same protein measured with a more precise test that can detect the low-grade chronic inflammation associated with cardiovascular disease.

Unlike standard CRP which measures acute inflammation (infections, injuries), hsCRP detects the subtle, persistent inflammation that smolders beneath the surface — the kind that silently damages blood vessels, promotes plaque formation, and accelerates aging.

The American Heart Association and CDC endorse hsCRP as a useful marker for cardiovascular risk stratification, particularly in people with intermediate risk based on traditional factors. It predicts heart attacks and strokes independently of cholesterol levels.

How to Test

Best test:hsCRP (high-sensitivity CRP) — NOT standard CRP

Why high-sensitivity:Standard CRP only detects values above 3-10 mg/L. hsCRP measures down to 0.1 mg/L, revealing low-grade chronic inflammation that standard tests miss.

Fasting:Not required. hsCRP is not significantly affected by food intake.

Timing:Avoid testing during acute illness, infection, or within 2-3 weeks of injury or surgery.

If result >10 mg/L:Likely reflects acute inflammation (cold, injury, dental work). Wait 2-3 weeks and retest. For cardiovascular risk, average two tests taken 2+ weeks apart.

Retest interval:Every 3-6 months when actively tracking lifestyle changes; annually once stable and low.

Acute vs. Chronic Inflammation

Understanding the difference is crucial for interpreting your hsCRP result:

Acute Inflammation

CRP: 10-100+ mg/L

Examples: Infections, injuries, surgery, dental procedures

Your immune system is actively fighting something. This is normal and temporary.

Chronic Low-Grade Inflammation

CRP: 1-10 mg/L

Examples: Poor diet, excess visceral fat, chronic stress, poor sleep

Persistent smoldering inflammation that damages blood vessels over time.

Optimal State

CRP: <1 mg/L (ideally <0.5)

Examples: Anti-inflammatory diet, healthy weight, good sleep, stress management

Minimal background inflammation — your cardiovascular system is well-protected.

AHA/CDC

endorsed marker

Official cardiovascular risk assessment guidelines since 2003

Pearson et al. 2003

2×

CVD risk increase

hsCRP >3 mg/L doubles cardiovascular risk vs <1 mg/L

JUPITER Trial 2008

Independent

predictor

Predicts cardiovascular events even with normal LDL cholesterol

Ridker 2007

Research Summary

The landmark JUPITER trial (17,802 participants) demonstrated that elevated hsCRP identifies cardiovascular risk even in people with "normal" LDL cholesterol. The Emerging Risk Factors Collaboration meta-analysis (160,309 people) confirmed hsCRP as an independent predictor of coronary heart disease, stroke, and mortality.

Three Interpretation Paradigms

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Standard Medical

Focus: AHA/CDC risk stratification

<1 mg/L low risk | 1-3 mg/L average risk | 3-10 mg/L high risk | >10 mg/L acute (retest)

The AHA/CDC guidelines classify hsCRP for cardiovascular risk. This approach was validated by large-scale trials and is used clinically to identify patients who may benefit from more aggressive prevention strategies.

Action: Used for CVD risk assessment alongside lipids; statin consideration for high CRP

🔬

Research Consensus

Focus: Optimal health, longevity

<0.5 mg/L optimal | 0.5-1 mg/L suboptimal | 1-2 mg/L elevated | >2 mg/L high

Research shows that the "low risk" category (<1 mg/L) still contains meaningful gradation. Values below 0.5 mg/L are associated with even better outcomes. Many researchers advocate for targeting <0.5 mg/L as truly optimal.

Action: Target <0.5 through lifestyle; investigate root causes above 1

⚡

Metabolic Optimization

Focus: Anti-inflammatory diet tracking

<0.3 mg/L optimal | 0.3-0.8 mg/L suboptimal | 0.8-1.5 mg/L elevated | >1.5 mg/L investigate

People following strict low-carb, carnivore, or elimination diets often achieve remarkably low hsCRP (<0.3 mg/L). In this context, values above 1 mg/L suggest something is triggering inflammation that warrants investigation.

Action: Values <0.3 common on carnivore/keto; elevated results unexpected and warrant investigation

Interpretation Table

Units: mg/L (same across all paradigms)

Category	Standard Medical	Research Consensus	Metabolic Optimization
Optimal	< 1.0	< 0.5	< 0.3
Normal / Suboptimal	1.0 - 3.0	0.5 - 1.0	0.3 - 0.8
Elevated	3.0 - 10.0	1.0 - 2.0	0.8 - 1.5
High / Investigate	> 10.0 (acute)	> 2.0	> 1.5

What Drives Elevated hsCRP?

🍽️

Diet Factors

•High sugar and refined carbohydrate intake
•Excess omega-6 fatty acids (seed oils)
•Ultra-processed foods
•Individual food sensitivities (gluten, dairy)
•Low omega-3 intake

⚖️

Body Composition

•Visceral fat (belly fat) — the primary driver
•Metabolic syndrome
•Insulin resistance
•Fatty liver disease

🌙

Lifestyle

•Poor sleep quality or duration
•Chronic stress
•Sedentary behavior
•Overtraining (in athletes)
•Smoking

🏥

Medical Conditions

•Active infections
•Autoimmune diseases
•Periodontal (gum) disease
•Chronic kidney disease
•Cancer

How to Lower hsCRP

🥗

Diet

Increase omega-3s
Fatty fish 2-3x/week, or supplement EPA/DHA
Reduce seed oils
Replace with olive oil, butter, avocado oil
Eliminate processed foods
Focus on whole, single-ingredient foods
Consider elimination diet
Remove gluten, dairy for 30 days if suspicious
Anti-inflammatory foods
Berries, leafy greens, turmeric, ginger

🏃

Lifestyle

Sleep 7-9 hours
Sleep deprivation directly raises CRP
Manage stress
Chronic stress elevates cortisol and CRP
Regular exercise
Moderate activity anti-inflammatory; avoid overtraining
Lose visceral fat
Most powerful intervention; belly fat = inflammation factory
Oral hygiene
Gum disease is a hidden inflammation source

💊

Targeted Support

EPA/DHA fish oil
2-4g/day most evidence-backed; reduces CRP 20-30%
Curcumin
With piperine or liposomal form for absorption
Magnesium
Deficiency associated with higher CRP
Vitamin D
Optimize to 50-80 ng/mL; low D correlates with high CRP
Berberine
May help if metabolic syndrome present

Focus on lifestyle factors first. Supplements support but don't replace diet and lifestyle changes. Consult your healthcare provider before starting any supplement regimen.

Timeline for Improvement

1-2 weeks

Diet changes begin affecting CRP

4-8 weeks

Significant reductions possible with consistent lifestyle changes

3-6 months

Full effect of weight loss and exercise on CRP

Ongoing

Maintain anti-inflammatory lifestyle for sustained low CRP

Key Takeaways

•hsCRP measures the chronic low-grade inflammation that drives cardiovascular disease
•It predicts heart attacks and strokes independently of cholesterol levels
•Values >10 mg/L usually indicate acute inflammation — retest in 2-3 weeks
•Visceral fat is the primary driver of chronically elevated hsCRP
•Target <0.5 mg/L for optimal health; <0.3 achievable on anti-inflammatory diets
•EPA/DHA fish oil is the most evidence-backed supplement for lowering CRP
•Sleep, stress, and exercise matter as much as diet
•Gum disease is a commonly overlooked inflammation source

References

1. Ridker PM Inflammatory biomarkers and risks of myocardial infarction, stroke, diabetes, and total mortality. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2007;49(21):2129-2138. PMID: 17531663
2. Ridker PM, Danielson E, Fonseca FA, et al. Rosuvastatin to prevent vascular events in men and women with elevated C-reactive protein (JUPITER). N Engl J Med. 2008;359(21):2195-2207. PMID: 18997196
3. Pearson TA, Mensah GA, Alexander RW, et al. Markers of inflammation and cardiovascular disease: AHA/CDC Scientific Statement. Circulation. 2003;107(3):499-511. PMID: 12551878
4. Emerging Risk Factors Collaboration C-reactive protein concentration and risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, and mortality. Lancet. 2010;375(9709):132-140. PMID: 20031199
5. Calder PC Omega-3 fatty acids and inflammatory processes. Nutrients. 2010;2(3):355-374. PMID: 22254027
6. Irwin MR, Olmstead R, Carroll JE Sleep disturbance, sleep duration, and inflammation: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Biol Psychiatry. 2016;80(1):40-52. PMID: 26140821
7. Esposito K, Marfella R, Ciotola M, et al. Effect of a Mediterranean-style diet on endothelial dysfunction and markers of vascular inflammation. JAMA. 2004;292(12):1440-1446. PMID: 15383514
8. Forsythe CE, Phinney SD, Fernandez ML, et al. Comparison of low fat and low carbohydrate diets on circulating fatty acid composition and markers of inflammation. Lipids. 2008;43(1):65-77. PMID: 18046594
9. Selvin E, Paynter NP, Erlinger TP The effect of weight loss on C-reactive protein: a systematic review. Ann Intern Med. 2007;167(1):31-39. PMID: 17210875
10. Minihane AM, Vinoy S, Russell WR, et al. Low-grade inflammation, diet composition and health: current research evidence and its translation. Br J Nutr. 2015;114(7):999-1012. PMID: 26228057

This information is for educational purposes only and should not be used to diagnose or treat any medical condition. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your health regimen.

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