Cardiorespiratory fitness and C-reactive protein among a tri-ethnic sample of women.
BACKGROUND
Elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) is associated with increased coronary heart disease (CHD) risk. Cardiorespiratory fitness ("fitness") is related with lower CHD risk; however, its relationship with CRP is relatively unknown.


RESULTS
Cross-sectional associations between fitness and plasma CRP were examined among 135 African American (AA), Native American (NA), and Caucasian (CA) women (55+/-11 year; 28+/-6 kg/m2). Fitness was assessed with a maximal treadmill exercise test. Plasma CRP concentrations were determined with the Dade Behring high-sensitivity immunoassay. Geometric mean CRP levels were 0.43, 0.25, and 0.23 mg/dL, and average maximal MET levels of fitness were 7.2, 9.1, and 10 METs for AA, NA, and CA, respectively. CRP decreased across tertiles of fitness (P=0.002), increased across tertiles of BMI (P=0.0007), and varied by race (P=0.002). After adjustment for covariates, lower CRP (P<0.05) was observed across tertiles of fitness among NA and CA, but not AA. Among all women, after adjusting for race and covariates, the odds of high-risk CRP (>0.19 mg/dL) were 0.67 (95% CI=0.19 to 2.4) among fit (>6.5 METs) versus unfit women.


CONCLUSIONS
The health benefits from enhanced fitness may have an antiinflammatory mechanism.
Cardiology Division, LDS Hospital, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah 84143, USA. ldmlamon@ihc.com
Michael J
MJ
LaMonte
J Larry
JL
Durstine
Frank G
FG
Yanowitz
Tobin
T
Lim
Katrina D
KD
DuBose
Paul
P
Davis
Barbara E
BE
Ainsworth
D044383:Black People; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American; D008875:Middle Aged; D010809:Physical Fitness; D012307:Risk Factors; D044465:White People; D001741:Black or African American
D002097:C-Reactive Protein