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Improving cardiorespiratory fitness protects against inflammation in children: the IDEFICS study
Esther M González-Gil1,2,3, Alba M Santaliestra-Pasías4,5,6,7, Christoph Buck8
1Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II, Instituto de Nutrición y Tecnología de los Alimentos, Center of Biomedical Research (CIBM), Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain. esthergg@ugr.es.
Insights
Improving cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) in children lowers inflammation markers like high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP). Enhanced CRF over time significantly reduces the likelihood of high hs-CRP levels, regardless of body composition.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health
- Exercise Science
- Biomarkers of Inflammation
Background:
- Muscular fitness (MF) and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) are linked to inflammation.
- High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) is a key inflammation marker.
- Understanding the relationship between fitness and hs-CRP in children is crucial for public health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between MF, CRF, and hs-CRP levels in European children.
- To determine if fitness improvements over time impact inflammatory markers.
- To investigate these relationships independently of body composition and lifestyle factors.
Main Methods:
- Included 357 children (ages 2-9) with baseline and 2-year follow-up data.
- Assessed hs-CRP, MF, CRF, diet quality, physical activity, and screen time.
- Measured body mass index z-score (zBMI), waist circumference (WC), and fat mass index (FMI).
Main Results:
- Children with the highest CRF at follow-up had a lower probability of high hs-CRP.
- Longitudinal analysis showed improved CRF significantly lowered the odds of high hs-CRP (p < 0.05).
- These associations remained significant regardless of zBMI, WC, or FMI.
Conclusions:
- Improving CRF in childhood reduces the odds of an inflammatory profile.
- Fitness, particularly CRF, plays a protective role against inflammation in children.
- Early interventions to enhance CRF may prevent future cardiovascular disease by mitigating inflammation.
Background:
Muscular and cardiorespiratory fitness (MF and CRF) have been related to inflammation. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess the relationship between fitness and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in European children both in the cross-sectional and longitudinal analysis.
Methods:
Three hundred and fifty-seven children (46.2% males) aged 2-9 years with hs-CRP measured, data from MF and CRF, diet quality, objectively measured physical activity (PA) and screen time at baseline and follow-up after 2 years were included. Body mass index z-score (zBMI), waist circumference (WC) and fat mass index (FMI) were assessed. MF and CRF were also dichotomized as follows: low-medium quartiles (Q1-Q3) and highest quartile (Q4).
Results:
At follow-up, children with the highest CRF (Q4) showed a lower probability of having high hs-CRP. In the longitudinal analysis, children who improved their CRF over time showed a significantly lower probability (p < 0.05) of being in the highest hs-CRP category at follow-up, independently of the body composition index considered: odds ratio (OR) = 0.22 for zBMI, OR = 0.17 for WC, and OR = 0.21 for FMI.
Conclusions:
Improving CRF during childhood reduces the odds of an inflammatory profile, independently of body composition and lifestyle behaviours. These highlight the importance of enhancing fitness, especially CRF, to avoid an inflammatory state in children.
Impact:
Improvements in the cardiorespiratory profile during childhood could reverse an unfavourable inflammatory status. There is a longitudinal and inverse association between CRF and inflammation in children. This is the first longitudinal study assessing the relationship between fitness and inflammation during childhood that takes also into account the lifestyle behaviours. Results from the present study suggest a protective role of fitness already in childhood. Efforts to improve fitness in children should be aimed at as inflammation could trigger future cardiovascular disease.
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