Abstract
Background: Physical activity is associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease but the mechanisms remain uncertain. Inflammatory markers are predictive of cardiovascular risk. We therefore examined the association between cardiorespiratory fitness and C-reactive protein (CRP) in a group of young adults.
Methods: Cardiorespiratory fitness using a bicycle ergometer, blood pressure, smoking history, and anthropometric measurements were determined in 308 women and 399 men aged 26 years. Maximal heart rate during submaximal exercise was used to calculate VO2 max. (ml/kg/min). Subjects were classified in tertiles of physical fitness according to VO2 max. level. CRP was measured using an immunoturbidimetric assay.
Results: Geometric mean (95% CI) CRP levels were significantly related to levels of cardiorespiratory fitness in men (p<0.01) and women (p<0.001). There was a significant fitness × sex interaction (p= 0.01) indicating the relationship was stronger for women. When adjusted for body mass index, blood pressure and smoking history the relationship was significant for women only.
Conclusions: CRP level is independently related to cardiorespiratory fitness in young women.