title: Cardiorespiratory fitness and components of the metabolic syndrome in sedentary men.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Division of Kinesiology, Laval University, Québec, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Marie-Eve
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Riou
authors.forename: Etienne
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pigeon
authors.forename: Josée
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: St-Onge
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tremblay
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marette
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Weisnagel
authors.forename: Denis R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Joanisse
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D002096:C-Peptide; D007328:Insulin; D008055:Lipids