Effect of Exercise on Serum C-Reactive Protein

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Regular exercise protects us against numerous chronic diseases, and reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease. Also, C-reactive protein, a marker of inflammation, is known to be associated with the risk and prognosis of cardiovascular disease. The present study was designed to assess the effects of regular exercise on the level of high sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The serum level of hsCRP and the anthropometric indices of adiposity, metabolic variables, blood pressure (BP) and several cardiovascular risk factors were measured in 18445 subjects. A prospective study of 42 subjects with high baseline levels of hsCRP was conducted. After 3 months of regular aerobic exercise their hsCRP levels were rechecked and the association between regular exercise and hsCRP analyzed using a cross sectional and prospective study. RESULTS: Age, smoking, hypertension, diabetes and body mass index were found to be independent determinants of an elevated hsCRP level, but exercise was not found to be associated with a decreased hsCRP level in the cross-sectional study. In the prospective study, the mean serum hsCRP value was significantly reduced after 3 months in the exercise group (3.02+/-1.06 vs. 2.05+/-1.23 p=0.015), but not in the controls (3.03+/-1.09 vs. 2.57+/-1.11 p=0.104). However, the interval changes in hsCRP levels were not different in the exercise compared to the control group (p=0.660). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that exercise is not an independent determinant of the CRP level. Three months of regular aerobic exercise show a tendency to be associated with a reduction in the hsCRP level, but this putative effect of exercise on the hsCRP level was not significant in healthy subjects. Further larger sample, prospective cohort studies will be required to establish the effect of exercise on the hsCRP level.