Cardiovascular Fitness and Vascular Inflammatory Markers After Acute Aerobic Exercise

• Published in: International journal of sport nutrition and exercise metabolism 2007-04, Vol.17 (2), p.152-162
• Main Authors: Plaisance, E.P, Taylor, J.K, Alhassan, S, Abebe, A, Mestek, M.L, Grandjean, P.W
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; biomarkers; Biomarkers - blood; C-reactive protein; C-Reactive Protein - analysis; C-Reactive Protein - metabolism; cardiovascular diseases; Cardiovascular Diseases - blood; Cardiovascular Diseases - etiology; exercise; Exercise - physiology; fibrinogen; Fibrinogen - analysis; Fibrinogen - metabolism; Health Status; Humans; inflammation; Inflammation - blood; Leukocyte Count; Male; men; Middle Aged; Oxygen Consumption; physical fitness; Physical Fitness - physiology; Risk Factors; Time Factors
• ISSN: 1526-484X; 1543-2742
• DOI: 10.1123/ijsnem.17.2.152

Inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen, and white-blood-cell (WBC) count are strongly associated with cardiovascular disease. The authors' purpose was to compare the inflammatory response to a single aerobic-exercise session between individuals of high and moderate fitness. Ten apparently healthy highly fit and 11 moderately fit men expended 500 kcal at 70% of VO(2peak). Fasting blood samples were obtained on 2 consecutive days before and again at 24, 72, and 120 h postexercise. Blood samples were analyzed for CRP, fibrinogen, and WBC count. CRP was 76% lower at baseline in the highly fit group than in the moderately fit group (P = 0.03). CRP, fibrinogen, and WBC count remained unaltered, however, in the days after exercise (P > 0.05 for all). These findings suggest that markers of inflammation are stable in the days after a single session of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise in apparently healthy men of at least average fitness.