C-Reactive Protein Levels and the Gut 16S Microbiome among Mexican Americans in Starr County, Texas

C-reactive protein is a marker of low-grade inflammation and is elevated in those with type 2 diabetes and in those at risk for developing type 2 diabetes. High sensitivity C-reactive protein and stool 16S rDNA gene sequencing were performed on 602 Mexican Americans from Starr County, Texas, selected because they had no prior history of diabetes. Results show that higher levels of C-reactive protein are predictive of worsening glycemia and are influenced by the gut microbiome. Higher C-reactive protein levels were associated with reduced microbiome richness and with reductions in the Firmicutes to Bacteroidota ratio. These findings have implications for possible novel diagnostic strategies and therapeutics.