Washington: The higher the weight in children, the greater is their susceptibility to heart diseases, according to latest research.

A study conducted by researchers at the Atlanta University, found that higher the level of Body Mass Index (BMI), a measure of overall body fatness, the greater is the level of C reactive protein (CRP).

"This finding suggests that the inflammatory component of heart disease might be present very early in life," says Earl S Ford, medical officer in the Division of Adult and Community Health, Centres for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.

"These findings are interesting from a research perspective," he says. The study has been published in the 'Journal of the American Heart Association'.

Ford analysed data collected by the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), 1999- 2000, a cross-sectional study of the US population. The survey included several health measures like age, body mass index, blood pressure and CRP (measured with a high-sensitivity test).

Ford observed that while body mass index was the best predictor of CRP concentrations in both boys and girls, it was not the only association.

CRP was higher in older boys suggesting an association with age. In girls, aged 12 to 17, as CRP increased, systolic blood pressure also increased. Systolic blood pressure is the top number in a blood pressure reading.

"They do not make a case for testing CRP in all children. CRP has received a fair amount of attention in adults, but we really didn't know much about it in children. However, as with any risk marker, it is useful to look at potential relationships in different age groups," he says.

ANI