title: Combined association of physical activity and diet with C-reactive protein among smokers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In the general population, both physical activity and dietary behavior are independently associated with less systemic inflammation, with this relationship less examined among smokers. To our knowledge, no study has examined the combined association of both physical activity and dietary behavior on systemic inflammation among daily smokers, which was the purpose of this study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from the 2003-2006 NHANES were employed. 810 adult smokers provided C-reactive protein data (CRP; a marker of inflammation), and sufficient physical activity (accelerometry) and dietary data (healthy eating index).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The fully adjusted model showed that participants meeting physical activity guidelines and eating a healthy diet (β = -0.34, p = 0.03) had lower CRP levels when compared to those not engaging in these health behaviors, but only having one health behavior was not a significant predictor of CRP (β = -0.19, p = 0.14).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Smokers engaging in regular physical activity while consuming a healthy diet demonstrate lower CRP levels than their counterparts. When taken together, these behaviors may mitigate inflammation associated with various chronic diseases, which is of particular importance as very few smokers successfully quit smoking.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health, Exercise Science, and Recreation Management, Center for Health Behavior Research, School of Applied Sciences, The University of Mississippi, 215 Turner Center, University, MS 38677 USA.
authors.forename: Paul D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Loprinzi
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Therapy, Bellarmine University, Louisville, KY USA.
authors.forename: Jerome F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Walker
keywords: Accelerometry; Dietary behavior; Epidemiology; Nicotine; Smoking