Physical activity and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein: the multi-ethnic study of atherosclerosis.
BACKGROUND
Previous studies have suggested an inverse relationship between physical activity and markers of inflammation such as high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP). However, these were inconsistent, and few examined whether race and gender influenced the relationship. This study determined a cross-sectional association between physical activity and hs-CRP level in 6142 middle-aged white, Chinese, black, and Hispanic participants enrolled in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis in 2000-2002.


METHODS
Combined moderate and vigorous physical activity was measured by self-reported leisure, conditioning, occupational, and household activities. ANCOVA was used to assess the association between moderate/vigorous physical activity and hs-CRP by gender and race.


RESULTS
Hs-CRP was higher in women. Blacks had the highest hs-CRP, and Chinese participants had the lowest. Hs-CRP decreased across tertiles of moderate/vigorous physical activity in Hispanic men in models adjusted for age, education, study site, and physical activity questionnaire mode of administration (p=0.005) and further adjusted for smoking, infection, and aspirin use (p=0.020). The trend remained significant after further adjustment for BMI; blood pressure; low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; high-density lipoprotein cholesterol; diabetes; and the use of antihypertensive, statin, and diabetes medication (p=0.044). There was a downward trend in hs-CRP across tertiles of physical activity in black and white men, but the association was weaker. No clear trend was observed in any female racial/ethnic groups.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that the association between moderate/vigorous physical activity and hs-CRP differs by race and gender. Further studies are needed to confirm this and to examine the mechanisms for these race and gender differences.
Majka
Darcy S
DS
Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA. d-majka@northwestern.edu
Chang
Rowland W
RW
Vu
Thanh-Huyen T
TH
Palmas
Walter
W
Geffken
Dominic F
DF
Ouyang
Pamela
P
Ni
Hanyu
H
Liu
Kiang
K
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000235:genetics; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D012737:Sex Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
D015415:Biomarkers; D002097:C-Reactive Protein