CRP and metabolic disease: Obesity has been shown to increase the expression and secretion of proinflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis alpha factor (TNF-α) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) and raises plasma C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations, leading to the chronic low-grade inflammation that characterizes the disease [14] and appears to play a central role in the development of a variety of metabolic disorders and hormonal dysfunctions [15–17].