Cardiorespiratory fitness and C-reactive protein among a tri-ethnic sample of women

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Health
• Inflammation Biomarkers
• Exercise Physiology

Background:

• Elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) is a known risk factor for coronary heart disease (CHD).
• Cardiorespiratory fitness is associated with reduced CHD risk, but its relationship with CRP is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between cardiorespiratory fitness and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels.
• To explore potential differences in this relationship across racial groups.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study involving 135 African American, Native American, and Caucasian women.
• Cardiorespiratory fitness assessed via maximal treadmill exercise test (METs).
• Plasma CRP concentrations measured using a high-sensitivity immunoassay.

Main Results:

• CRP levels decreased significantly across increasing tertiles of fitness (P=0.002).
• Lower CRP was observed with higher fitness in Native American and Caucasian women, but not African American women.
• Higher BMI was associated with increased CRP levels (P=0.0007).

Conclusions:

• Enhanced cardiorespiratory fitness may contribute to reduced inflammation.
• Fitness may play a role in mitigating CHD risk through anti-inflammatory pathways.