Atherogenic inflammatory and oxidative stress markers in relation to overweight values in male former athletes.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate inflammation- and oxidative stress-related (OxS) background in former athletes in relation to overweight and abdominal obesity status.


METHODS
Cross-sectional data from ongoing follow-up study.


METHODS
A total of 60 middle-aged former athletes (46.6+/-7.5 years; 181.1+/-7.2 cm; 88.1 +/- 12.9 kg) and 54 age-matched controls (48.1+/-7.3 years; 181.4 +/- 6.2 cm; 89.7 +/- 14.4 kg).


METHODS
Anthropometric characteristics, serum lipoproteins (CHOL, HDL-C, LDL-C, TG), oxidized LDL (oxLDL), diene conjugates (DC) and high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP). Information about the physical activity and other lifestyle variables were collected by the questionnaire.


RESULTS
Ex-athletes were characterized by significantly higher physical activity characteristics and lower CHOL and oxLDL in comparison with controls. Correlation analysis among ex-athletes revealed negative associations between all measured overweight data (body mass index, fat percentage, waist to hip circumferences and waist circumference (WC)), and current physical activity. Current physical activity was significantly related to OxS and inflammatory characteristics (oxLDL, DC and hsCRP) among the ex-athletes, but not among the control group. The most expressed positive correlations were found between WC, hsCRP, triglycerides (TG), DC and oxLDL in both study groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study results suggest that there exists an independent (adjusted for potential confounders) association between overweight, abdominal obesity, and atherogenic inflammatory and oxidative stress markers in ex-athletes as well as in age-matched controls. Major findings of our study show that WC is the best correlate of hsCRP, oxLDL, DC and TG levels.
Pihl
E
E
Department of Biochemistry, University of Tartu, Estonia.
Zilmer
K
K
Kullisaar
T
T
Kairane
C
C
Mägi
A
A
Zilmer
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood; D008019:Life Style; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D050177:Overweight / Q000502:physiology*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology*; D013177:Sports / Q000502:physiology*; D049629:Waist-Hip Ratio
D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D008074:Lipoproteins; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; C099252:oxidized low density lipoprotein; D002097:C-Reactive Protein