HIGH-SENSITIVITY C-REACTIVE PROTEIN (hsCRP) IN YOUNG ADULTS: RELATION TO AEROBIC CAPACITY, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND RISK FACTORS FOR CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES

Atheromatosis develops as a result of a chronic inflammatory process of the arteries. Inflammatory biomarkers, particularly high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), positively correlate with atheromatosis risk factors and can be used to estimate and predict the risk of cardiovascular events. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between hsCRP concentration and BMI, body composition, classical risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, energy expenditure for physical activity (WEE) and VO(2)max. 166 volunteers (78 women and 88 men) were included in the examinations. Their mean age was 20.2 +/- 0.9 years. Health condition was described by the following variables: smoking, WEE, VO(2)max, body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), fat mass (FM), fat-free mass (FFM), lipid profile, hsCRP, glucose and insulin concentration, and insulin resistance. Between the subgroups created on the basis of hsCRP concentration, in quartiles 1 to 3 and quartile 4, a comparative analysis was carried out. 79.5% of women and 69.3% of men had hsCRP values within the references ranges. Moderately high values were found in 14.1% of women and 22.7% of men and high in 6.4% and 7.9%, respectively. Mean values of BMI, FFM, WHR, WEE, VO(2)max, glucose and triglyceride concentration, and TC/HDL index were significantly lower, while FM and HDL were significantly higher, in women than in men. In the quartile 4 subgroup compared to the quartile 1-3 subgroup, we found significantly lower HDL concentration and a tendency for higher values of BMI (p=0.06) and TC (p=0.07) as well as higher percentages of smoking among men. In young, physically active, healthy persons, serum concentration of hsCRP is not related to physical activity or VO(2)max.