title: Exercise-based interventions and C-reactive protein in overweight and obese youths: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  One of the most commonly measured markers of inflammation in clinical settings is C-reactive protein (CRP). The purpose of this meta-analysis was to examine the evidence for the effectiveness of physical exercise interventions on modifying the levels of serum CRP in children and adolescents with excess of weight.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two independent reviewers assessed articles from seven databases. Studies were limited to physical exercise interventions in children and adolescents diagnosed as overweight or obese, and including a comparison control group. Weighted mean difference (WMD) was calculated using random-effects model and potential moderators were explored (i.e., weight status, ages, duration of study, frequency of exercise per week, and duration of session). The heterogeneity of the studies was estimated using Cochran's Q-statistic and I(2).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nine randomized controlled trials met the inclusion criteria (n = 427 youths). Overall, results suggest a nonsignificant trend toward a reduction CRP levels (WMD = -0.72 mg/l; 95% confidence interval: -1.52 to 0.08; P = 0.077). Also, there were not significant moderators of exercise effects on CRP.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that exercise programs in children and adolescents not mitigate the inflammatory effects of excess weight, although there was a trend toward reduction.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Ciencias de la Actividad Física, el Deporte y la Salud, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, USACH, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: García-Hermoso
authors.affiliation: Health and Social Research Center, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Cuenca, Spain.|School of Education, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Ciudad Real, Spain.
authors.forename: Mairena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sánchez-López
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Ciencias del Deporte, AFIDES Research Group, Universidad de Extremadura, Cáceres, Spain.
authors.forename: Yolanda
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Escalante
authors.affiliation: Physical Activity, Physical Education, Sport and Health Research Centre, Sports Science Department, School of Science and Engineering, Reykjavik University, Reykjavik, Iceland.
authors.forename: Jose M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Saavedra
authors.affiliation: Health and Social Research Center, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Cuenca, Spain.
authors.forename: Vicente
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Martínez-Vizcaíno
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D002648:Child; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000378:metabolism*; D050177:Overweight / Q000378:metabolism*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
chemical_list: D002097:C-Reactive Protein