Association between physical activity, physical performance, and inflammatory biomarkers in an elderly population: the InCHIANTI study.
BACKGROUND
Our aim was to determine the association between physical activity and physical performance, and inflammatory biomarkers in elderly persons.


METHODS
One thousand four persons aged 65 years or more, participants in a cross-sectional population-based study, were included. Interviewers collected information on self-reported physical activity during the previous year. Moreover, 841 participants performed a 400-meter walking test to assess physical performance. Plasma concentrations of inflammatory biomarkers were determined.


RESULTS
Compared to sedentary men, men practicing light and moderate-high physical activity had a significantly lower erythrocyte sedimentation rate (-0.33 and -0.40 mm/h; p =.023 and p =.006, respectively), fibrinogen level (-43 and -39 mg/dL; p =.001 and p =.004, respectively), and logarithm of C-reactive protein (CRP) (-0.43 and -0.73 mg/L; p =.025 and p <.001, respectively), whereas only those men practicing moderate-high physical activity had a significantly lower uric acid level (-0.57 mg/dL; p =.023), log(interleukin 6) levels (-0.33 pg/mL; p =.014), and log(tumor necrosis factor-alpha) (-0.31 pg/mL; p =.030). In women, those practicing light and moderate-high physical activity had significantly lower uric acid (-0.45 and -0.34 mg/dL; p =.001 and p =.039, respectively) and log(interleukin 6) levels (-0.18 and -0.30 pg/mL; p =.043 and p =.004, respectively); only those women practicing moderate-high physical activity had significantly lower log(CRP) (-0.31 mg/L; p =.020). In women, when the analysis was adjusted for body mass index, the association between physical activity and CRP was no longer significant. Similar findings were observed when we carried these analyses according to physical performance.


CONCLUSIONS
Current physical activity practice and performance are associated with inflammatory biomarkers. A significant beneficial association is already observed with light physical activity practice and intermediate performance.
Nutrition and Genomics Laboratory, Jean Mayer United States Department of Agriculture Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. relosua@imim.es
Roberto
R
Elosua
Benedetta
B
Bartali
Jose M
JM
Ordovas
Anna M
AM
Corsi
Fulvio
F
Lauretani
Luigi
L
Ferrucci
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood*; D007378:Interleukins / Q000097:blood; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000097:blood; D016138:Walking
D015415:Biomarkers; D007378:Interleukins; D014527:Uric Acid; D005340:Fibrinogen; D002097:C-Reactive Protein