Influence of cardiorespiratory fitness on the association between C-reactive protein and metabolic syndrome prevalence in racially diverse women.
BACKGROUND
Metabolic syndrome and C-reactive protein (CRP) are independent predictors of cardiovascular disease (CVD) among women. The extent to which cardiorespiratory fitness influences the relationship between CRP and metabolic syndrome is unknown.


RESULTS
Cross-sectional associations among fitness, CRP, and metabolic syndrome were examined in 135 African American, Native American, and Caucasian women (55 +/- 11 years, 28 +/- 6 kg/m2). Fitness was quantified with a symptom-limited maximal treadmill exercise test. Plasma CRP concentrations were determined with the Dade-Behring high-sensitivity immunoassay. Metabolic syndrome was defined according to NCEP-ATP III. Metabolic syndrome, CRP, and fitness varied (p < 0.05) by race. Race-adjusted CRP values were directly associated (p < 0.05) with each metabolic syndrome component. After adjusting for age and race, the relative odds of metabolic syndrome was 3.6 (95% CI = 1.5 - 8.4) in women with elevated (> 2.0 mg/L) vs. low CRP. Adjustment for smoking, hormone therapy, body mass index (BMI), and HOMA insulin resistance did not eliminate this association (p < 0.05). The association between CRP and the metabolic syndrome was no longer significant (OR = 1.3, 95% CI = 0.9 - 5.9, p = 0.59) after adjustment for fitness.


CONCLUSIONS
Higher cardiorespiratory fitness may be an important consideration in the milieu of vascular inflammation and metabolic syndrome.
LaMonte
Michael J
MJ
The Cooper Institute, Dallas, Texas 75230, USA. mlamonte@cooperinst.org
Ainsworth
Barbara E
BE
Durstine
J Larry
JL
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism; D002319:Cardiovascular System / Q000378:metabolism*; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay; D007198:Indians, North American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010809:Physical Fitness; D015995:Prevalence; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000378:metabolism*; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
D002097:C-Reactive Protein