Association between cardiovascular fitness and inflammatory markers in boys aged 11-14 years

ABSTRACT

It is reported that some inflammatory markers are predictive factors for atherosclerosis in childhood and adolescence and cardiovascular disease in adulthood. We investigated whether markers of inflammation including cytokine [Interleukin-6 [IL-6]], acute-phase reactant [C-reactive protein [CRP]], white blood cell [WBC] count and its subgroups are associated with maximal oxygen consumption [VO[2max]] in overweight and normal children. Subjects were 26 boys aged 11-14 years included in two groups of overweight [n=10] and normal weight [n=16] children. VO[2max] was measured employing an incremental graded exercise test. IL-6 and CRP levels as well as WBC count were measured. Multivariable regression was employed to evaluate whether inflammatory markers were associated with VO[2max]. Mean VO[2max] for all subjects [n=26] was 36.35 +/- 10.42 ml/kg/min. This rate was lesser for overweight subjects [25.77 +/- 5.04] than in normal weight children [41.54 +/- 5.96]. Log IL-6, log CRP, and WBC count were correlated with VO[2max]. Also subgroups of WBC including Leukocytes, Lymphocyte, Neutrophils, Monocytes and Eosinophils associated with VO[2max]. IL-6, CRP and WBCs were inversely associated with aerobic or cardiorespiratory fitness levels measured by VO[2max] in children. This was independent of BMI of the subjects: