title: Gender Differences in C-Reactive Protein and Muscle Strengthening Activity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Few studies have examined the gender differences between C-reactive protein (CRP) and muscle strengthening activity (MSA).
  
  
  METHODS
  The sample (n = 7533) included U.S. adult (≥20 years of age).participants in the 1999-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Created categories of MSA participation included no MSA (referent group), some MSA (≥1 to <2 days/week), and meeting the 2008 Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) recommendation (≥2 days/week). The dependent variable was elevated CRP (>3 to 10 mg/L).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Analysis revealed significantly lower odds of having elevated CRP for women reporting some MSA (OR 0.64; 95% CI 0.44-0.93, P = .0191). Significantly lower odds of men having elevated CRP was observed in those reporting MSA volumes meeting the DHHS recommendation (OR 0.72; 95% CI 0.59-0.88, P = .0019). Following adjustment for waist circumference (WC) these odds remained significant in men but not women.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that WC may mediate the associations between MSA and CRP and this relationship may be stronger in women.
authors.affiliation: Dept of Clinical and Applied Movement Sciences, University of North Florida, Jacksonville, FL.
authors.forename: Michael R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Richardson
authors.forename: Tammie M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Peter T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Katzmarzyk
authors.forename: Earl S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Ford
authors.forename: William R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Boyer
authors.forename: James R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Churilla
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D015444:Exercise; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012737:Sex Factors; D014481:United States; D055105:Waist Circumference
chemical_list: D002097:C-Reactive Protein