Sport-based physical activity recommendations and modifications in C-reactive protein and arterial thickness

Abstract

Inflammation decreased in adolescents engaged in organized sports, independently of trunk fatness and biological maturation. Moreover, inflammation was related to arterial thickening only in adolescents not engaged in sports. What is Known: • Intima media thickness is a relevant marker of cardiovascular disease in pediatric groups, being affected by obesity and inflammation. • The importance of monitoring inflammatory markers from childhood is enhanced by the fact that alterations in these inflammatory markers in early life predict inflammation and alterations in carotid IMT in adulthood. What is New: • Anti-inflammatory properties related to physical exercise performed at moderate intensity, on inflammation and alterations in IMT are not clear in pediatric groups. • Due to the importance that sport participation has assumed as a promoter of improvements in health and quality of life, it is necessary to understand its potential benefits for cardiovascular health during human growth.

Sports participation is inversely associated with C‐reactive protein levels in adolescents: ABCD Growth Study

“…However, another finding related to trunk fatness in this study was the fact that sports participation and inflammation status were related with each other independently of adiposity, denoting that the association between sports participation and CRP levels has a direct pathway. Similarly, longitudinal data have identified that adolescents engaged in ≥300 min/wk of sports for at least 12 months showed a greater decrease in CRP levels than their counterparts not engaged in sports, independently of adiposity. In fact, exercise protocols seem to be able to decrease inflammatory markers even in obese adolescents, denoting that the anti‐inflammatory environment attributed to physical exercise is adiposity‐independent.…”

“…In this study, previous time of engagement in sports was associated with decreased levels of CRP, while trunk fatness was not a mediator of this model. Given the fact that sports participation is an enjoyable way for adolescents to achieve the recommended MVPA for health, it is important to highlight that engagement in sports may decrease pro‐inflammatory cytokines, even without significant adiposity changes …”

“…Moreover, the volume of training is also a protective factor. Another aspect to be considered in this complex phenomenon is the fact that biological maturation appears to affect changes in inflammatory status more than adipose tissue itself, raising doubts about how maturation may affect inflammation during adolescence, which to date is not entirely clear …”

“…Sports participation is a typical manifestation of physical exercise during the first decades of life, this behavior being influenced by age, sex, family income, and cultural background . Engagement in sports during adolescence usually embraces activities at a moderate‐to‐vigorous intensity and evidence supports the benefits on inflammatory and cardiovascular risk factors …”

“…On the other hand, to date, the existence of this theoretical model is unclear. For instance, regular engagement in sports (≥300 min/wk) decreases CRP levels among adolescents independently of adiposity changes . However, body fatness affects cardiovascular risk factors more than physical activity .…”