Cardiorespiratory fitness and components of the metabolic syndrome in sedentary men.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationships between fitness and components of the metabolic syndrome in sedentary men.


METHODS
39 subjects (34-53 years) were evaluated for fitness (VO(2max)) and anthropometric, metabolic, and skeletal muscle phenotypes. VO(2max) was assessed on a bicycle ergometer whereas other variables were obtained from an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), hydrostatic weighing, and a muscle biopsy.


RESULTS
Pearson and partial correlations adjusted for fat mass (FM), waist circumference (WC), muscle enzyme activities (citrate synthase (CS), cytochrome c oxidase (COX)), and capillary density were used to investigate the independent relationships be tween variables. Negative correlations between VO(2max) and WC as well as blood pressure and OGTT test were observed. When adjusted for FM, correlations remained between VO(2max) and WC (r = -0.46, p < 0.01) and systolic blood pressure (r = -0.35, p < 0.05). When adjusted for WC and CS activity, all correlations were lost except for high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) (r = -0.34, p < 0.05) which remained when adjusted for CS activity. Adjustment for COX activity failed to remove correlations with hs-CRP (r = -0.36, p < 0.05), age (r = 0.34, p < 0.05), WC (r = -0.35, p < 0.05), and blood pressure. Negative correlations persisted when fitness was adjusted for the mean number of capillaries.


CONCLUSIONS
The effects of fitness on components of the metabolic syndrome in sedentary men are explained by abdominal obesity and muscle phenotypes.
Riou
Marie-Eve
ME
Division of Kinesiology, Laval University, Québec, QC, Canada.
Pigeon
Etienne
E
St-Onge
Josée
J
Tremblay
Angelo
A
Marette
André
A
Weisnagel
John
J
Joanisse
Denis R
DR
D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D002096:C-Peptide / Q000097:blood; D002196:Capillaries / Q000502:physiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D008019:Life Style; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000098:blood supply / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D056128:Obesity, Abdominal / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D055105:Waist Circumference / Q000502:physiology
D001786:Blood Glucose; D002096:C-Peptide; D007328:Insulin; D008055:Lipids